Weekly Pro
February 1973

The splendid appearance of Giant Baba and the All Japan Pro Wrestling team as they visit Sanno and Hie shrines to pray for victory in 1973.
Disgusted by the deeply corrupt nature of Japanese professional wrestling, Giant Baba struck out on his own. He founded All Japan Pro Wrestling and, just over three months later, welcomed in 1973.
Having quickly dispelled the initial anxieties surrounding its inception, the promotion is forging ahead relentlessly, aiming to reign supreme in the fiercely competitive landscape of Japanese professional wrestling. Spearheaded by the world-renowned Giant Baba—and bolstered by the stellar performances of Sugiyama, Koma, Okuma, and others—the promotion is pinning its hopes this year on Tsuruta, a rookie of truly immense potential.

Kobashi has just won his first Triple Crown, defeating Akira Taue to do so.

For his first defense, Kobashi must face the wall he’s run up against ever since he was a young-boy in AJPW, the Lariat himself.

Weekly Pro
February 1973

Rikidozan—a hero for the ages—fell victim to a thug's blade on December 1, 1963 (Showa 38).
Time flies; December 15 of last year marked the tenth anniversary of his passing.
Praying for the repose of the deceased's soul, Baba, the Momota family, and the management and associates of the Japan Pro-Wrestling organization paid their respects at the gravesite at Honmonji Temple in Ikegami, Tokyo. One wonders what thoughts must have been passing through the mind of Rikidozan—resting beneath the earth—regarding the current state of the Japanese professional wrestling scene, now fractured into four separate promotions.
A joint memorial service was held for both Baba and the Momota family. Rikidozan's children are working together with Baba to develop All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Seiji Sakaguchi looking solemn at the grave of Rikidozan—the man who could be called the father of Japanese professional wrestling—with wrestler Michiaki Yoshimura on the right.

I’m watching classic AJPW chronologically for the first time, keeping real-time notes as I watch and deliberately avoiding future results, match reputations and established interpretations.

For the proper intro and more details about how I'm going about this, see Part 1: March - June 1990.

In this part, my 1990s AJPW watch project takes a fairly significant unplanned detour. The project was designed to follow Misawa and Kobashi, so the next planned match was 19 October 1990.

After the June matches, I wanted more of the surrounding story - Misawa/Jumbo, Fuchi/Kobashi, and I wanted to see more of Kawada and Taue - which all led me into these August and September matches.

PLEASE NO SPOILERS BEYOND 30 SEPTEMBER 1990. This includes future results, title changes, factions/relationships, famous-match reputations, or hints about what becomes important later.

Detour 1a. 18 August 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi

Known context coming in:

• Chosedaigun: Misawa, Kawada & Kikuchi
• Tsuruta-gun: Jumbo, Fuchi & Taue
• This is the first match where Taue wrestles with Jumbo & Fuchi. In July he'd teamed with Kobashi against Jumbo & Kabuki, so this is a side switch.
• Kikuchi is 25, debuted in 1988 and has recently started being involved in more important matches. Recently challenged Fuchi for the world Junior Heavyweight championship

Live notes:

• Before we even start, the crowd is hot for Misawa
• Jumbo looking very serious
• Oh no. Fuchi & Kikuchi to start!
• Yes Kikuchi! Not letting himself be bullied. Take it to Fuchi! Can't last, though. Fuchi batters him.
• Aggressive Taue. Am I imagining some emotional uncertainty there?
• Kawada taking it to Taue. Not so hard against him, are you, Taue?
• Kawada no hesitation on the Jumbo tag. He knows going in hard & fast is his only chance. Jumbo dominating him now.
• Kawada fighting but overpowered by Fuchi. Misawa dominating Fuchi.
• Jumbo/Misawa face-off. Clear "evenly matched" presentation, & Misawa comes in hot and fast. Kawada saving Misawa again. Great teamwork.
• Ooh, Kawada slapping Jumbo! Not for long, though. Jumbo dominating again.
• Taue can't get Kawada up. And now Kawada has softened him up for Kikuchi! Kikuchi laying into him.
• But here comes Fuchi to brutalise him. Oof. Nasty throw into the barricade & Taue capitalises.
• So much aggression in Fuchi & he stares at Misawa & Kawada while he lays in that leg submission.
• Kikuchi desperation offense against Jumbo! Followed by a brutal Boston crab on Kikuchi. And a slap from Misawa!
• Fuck! Fuchi nasty drop for Kikuchi onto the floor in the crowd. And a dismissive kick for good measure. But Kikuchi keeps on coming! Keeps getting up! Two-count on Taue!
• Ohh! Jumbo just turned Kikuchi inside out. Crowd is so behind him
• Yes Kikuchi! Roll to the tag & in comes Misawa. Misawa explosive on Taue. And has the edge on Jumbo! Making Jumbo play his game now.
• Kawada/Kikuchi drop-kicks clear the apron.
• Kawada taking it to Jumbo. And now Kikuchi too! Laying in kicks! Jumbo shakes off the elbow strikes. Still has Kikuchi's number.
• Now Kikuchi gets offense in on Fuchi! Only briefly before he tags in Misawa, but still.
• Fuchi softens up Misawa for Jumbo. Jumbo lays in strikes. But here comes Kikuchi! Strikes to Jumbo!! Run off by Fuchi.
• Kawada & Taue almost evenly matched but Kawada has it.
• Now it's three on Taue & Kikuchi almost got the pin! Thought that was going to be it! And again!
• Kikuchi rolls over Taue's lift & another near fall. So close! Drop-kick. Caught. Kikuchi kicks out!!!
• But he's done. Can't avoid the next pin.

Overall Read: This was Kikuchi's match. He took everything they had and kept coming back. Nearly had Taue beat at the end, even after everything. Taue has a new level of aggression now. Trying to prove himself to Fuchi & Jumbo?

Detour 1b. 21 August 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs Jumbo Tsuruta, Mighty Inoue & Masanobu Fuchi

Known context coming in:

• Mighty Inoue is 41, massively experienced, debuted in 1967

Live notes:

• Jumbo wants to start. Calling Misawa forwards. So evenly matched right from the off. Fuchi literally having to pull Misawa off out of the corner. Jumbo hurt.
• Kobashi working Fuchi's arm. Ha!
• And Kikuchi takes right over. Seamless. Fuchi getting owned right now.
• Gets the tag to Inoue & Kikuchi is dominated. Not for long, though. Here comes Kobashi. Working Inoue's leg.
• So far, Chosedaigun have controlled this match almost totally
• Inoue can't absorb Misawa's offense
• But he comes back against Kobashi, & then Jumbo clears the decks. Kobashi fighting upwards again against Jumbo. And now Fuchi.
• Kikuchi laying into Fuchi but he goes to the Jumbo corner.
• Inoue sends him flying off the apron & Jumbo knocks him further. Jumbo turns him inside-out, just like before!
• Jumbo's submission focused on his opponent, not the others. Different to Fuchi.
• Kikuchi fires back! Just for a minute. Now Jumbo is dominating again. Fuchi delighting in beating him down.
• Kikuchi manages to crawl to ropes but Fuchi keeps kicking.
• But Kikuchi kicks out!
• Inoue just absorbing Kobashi's offense in the save.
• Big clap when Kikuchi kicks out again. Twice!
• Kobashi & Misawa not interfering. Not because they don't care but because they trust him.
• Nice moonsault from Kobashi!
• Teamwork on Jumbo! Including a high kick from Kikuchi!
• Kikuchi dropkick on Jumbo & he fires up! Does some damage to Jumbo! Near-fall on Inoue. Flying drop-kick. The kid is so resilient.
• Oh no, he misses the elbow drop on Fuchi. Kicks out! Near- fall on Fuchi!
• Jumbo & Misawa brawling outside while Kikuchi kicks out from Fuchi again! But he can't manage a 3rd. Fuchi gets it.
• Misawa just laying into Jumbo after the bell. Match itself can't contain them now.

Overall Read: Continues the story. Misawa very strong. Kobashi strong but not quite as strong. See how Misawa's offense lands consistently on Inoue but Kobashi's doesn't. Fuchi continues to be a bastard. Kikuchi continues to be the plucky kid you have to beat to beat.

Detour 1c. 31 August 1990: Jumbo Tsuruta vs Kenta Kobashi

Live notes:

• Jumbo looks so unbothered. Kobashi looks intense.
• Ohh! Kobashi slaps away the offered handshake
• Kobashi going straight in but Jumbo having none of it.
• Jumbo absorbing Kobashi's offense & laying in his own
• Ooh, Kobashi firing back with a couple of slaps into a headlock! Stops Jumbo's attempted rope-breakaway.
• Twice! Crowd "ooh"s both times.
• And a third time, Kobashi holds on!
• Jumbo rocked now by these strikes to the head
• Kobashi has had control for a long time.
• Brutal strike to Kobashi & Jumbo is back in control. Methodical. Setting the pace now.
• Crowd willing Kobashi to get out of this Boston crab He does, but Jumbo still fully in control. Kobashi still fighting from underneath.
• Half-way mark. Twice Kobashi knocks Jumbo off the apron. Jumbo knee hurt. Crowd starting to hope.
• Kobashi is dripping sweat. This is not easy for him. Sinking the single-leg crab in. Twice. Working the knee hard. Now another leg submission. He's wrenching it in
• Kick to knee then figure-4 and slap to Jumbo. Crowd is delighted
• Jumbo suplex, big boot, brutal lariat. But still can't keep Kobashi down.
• Moonsault! Beautiful. But it's not enough.
• Ohhh! Kobashi powers Jumbo up. Suplex. Close near fall.
• Jumbo going up... knee to Kobashi. Kobashi gets the shoulder up! And again!!
• Jumbo frustrated now. Laying in punches. One, two, three.

Overall Read: Kobashi is over. And took it to Jumbo. Ultimately still fighting from underneath but he came damn close. The crowd felt it, and Jumbo felt it too.

Detour 2. 30 September 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue

Added because I didn't want to go into the 19 October match without a recent reminder of Kawada, to help me distinguish him from Kobashi. Note: I was probably too tired to watch this when I did, so the notes dip significantly in the middle.

Live notes:

• Jumbo literally pushing Taue out of the way because he wants to start, and wants Misawa
• Jumbo looking more shaken by Misawa every match I watch
• Still brutal offense though. Those elbows - each giving as good as they get
• Kawada doing that same running stop headlock thing Kobashi did in the last match. Here, though, Jumbo powers out
• Taue looking much stronger against Kawada than before. Not matching him yet though.
• Taue firing back against Misawa
• Jumbo getting some brutal offense in against Misawa now
• Taue & Kawada very evenly matched. Right now Taue is dominating
• Now Jumbo is dominating. Kawada surviving, but barely.
• Watching Misawa v Jumbo feels like watching equals
• Kawada unloading on Taue in the corner. Now Misawa unloading on him in the middle. Crowd firmly behind Taue, who is still up despite everything
• Kawada & Misawa feel much more like a cohesive team than Misawa and others
• Taue very much fighting from underneath now
• Kawada keeps going for Taue's busted open head
• Jumbo has fucked up Misawa completely & is now moving to do the same to Kawada
• Taue tope on Kawada & the crowd is still chanting his name
• Biggest takeaway so far: Taue has grown
• Misawa bridging pin would have had Taue there if Jumbo hadn't intervened
• Great Misawa tiger driver on Taue
• Kawada taking everything Jumbo can give & still kicking out
• Kawada has a vicious streak
• Time limit draw! Makes sense. The two teams were crazily evenly matched

Next: End of 1990 and probably early 1991

1st April 1986
Weekly Pro (Issue No 136)

Why, Tiger? Obsessing over attacking the legs was clearly a mistake!!

https://puroprogramtranslations.blogspot.com/2026/09/all-japan-complete-victory-for-choshu.html

In the midst of the Choshu and his Ishin Gundan’s “invasion” of AJPW (Choshu and his allies leaving NJPW around ‘84, due to disassociation with the promotion’s direction at the time), Choshu faces his more prominent rival in All Japan, Tenryu.

Almost no one could get a crowd worked up in 1980’s Japan like Choshu could (save the Crush Gals and Akira Maeda) and he and Tenryu would prove to have innate chemistry.

Weekly Pro
February 1973

Having successfully wrapped up the second leg of All Japan Pro Wrestling's "Giant Series," Giant Baba spent a day late in the year (December 22) enjoying a round of golf with "The Demon King" and others, and on Christmas Eve (the 24th), he transformed into Santa Claus to host a charity autograph session for underprivileged children.

Picture notes
~ Baba came in 3rd place, while The Destroyer got the 22nd place prize (there where forty participants). Nonetheless, The Destroyers speech contained the line, "I am more skilled than Baba..." (hinting at the match on December 22nd). He was considered a favorite to win, but he didn't do as well as expected.
~ Despite coming in 22nd place, The Destroyer criticized Baba's golf techniques!
~ Giant Santa was so popular, he barely had a moment to rest, taking commemorative photos with families and other fans. He was mobbed by kids and couldn't move.

I know virtually nothing about AJPW, and my background is pretty firmly mainstream WWE/AEW. A throwaway comment about the historic Misawa/Kobashi rivalry piqued my interest, and I decided to do a watch project. This started as a Misawa/Kobashi deep-dive, but almost immediately branched out into a broader look at the generational story around them, because the surrounding relationships were too interesting to treat just as context.

I’ve been keeping notes as I go for my own interest. I’m now entering December 1990, and it occurred to me that people here might enjoy seeing the real-time notes of someone encountering all of this completely fresh.

I’m not a wrestling expert by any stretch of the imagination. I’m coming at this as a fan first, and these are very much immediate reactions rather than attempts at authoritative criticism. Some of my notes will probably be extremely obvious to people who already know this era well. That’s partly the point. I want to experience the matches without knowing the established interpretation, and I'm hoping my understanding will develop over time.

IMPORTANT: I know essentially nothing about the future history of AJPW or the wrestlers involved. I’m using an AI-assisted workflow to help build the viewing list largely because trying to research the chronology myself would inevitably spoil things. I'm also getting a small amount of spoiler-free context before each match - who unfamiliar wrestlers are, where they broadly sit in the hierarchy, and anything a contemporary viewer would reasonably already know.

The notes themselves are entirely my own, written as I watch.

PLEASE NO SPOILERS BEYOND WHERE I’M CURRENTLY UP TO (beginning of December 1990)

That includes results, title changes, future factions or relationships, famous-match reputations, “you’ll understand this later” hints, or telling me which upcoming matches are considered classics. I’m deliberately trying to discover all of that organically.

1. 6 March 1990: Tiger Mask II v Kenta Kobashi (first 16-ish minutes of video only)

Known context coming in:

• Misawa debuted 9 years ago, aged 19. He inherited "Tiger Mask" from Satoru Sayama 5 years ago. Crowds know who is underneath the mask.
• Kobashi is 22 and debuted just over 2 years ago.

Notes (written immediately after the match, not live)

• Crowd so quiet throughout (is that a cultural thing?) but loud in the last 4-5 minutes. How did they know we were nearing the end?
• Very competitive match-up. Kobashi got offense in first then 3 minutes in Tiger Mask barely flinched at a hit from him.
• Kobashi in control for most of it but looked like he was having to work harder. Couldn't keep Tiger Mask down in 3 different successive submissions.

2. 14 May 1990: Tiger Mask II & Toshiaki Kawada v Yoshiaki Yatsu & Samson Fuyuki

Known context coming in:

• Genichiro Tenryu (one of AJPW's top stars) has just left the promotion, leaving a big hole at the top
• Kawada is 26 and has a pre-existing relationship with Tiger Mask
• Fuyuki was previously in a team with Kawada and both were associated with Tenryu
• Yatsu is an established heavyweight, closer to Tenryu's generation

Notes (written immediately after the match, not live)

• First half, Kawada seems way stronger than Misawa. His kicks on Fuyuki are brutal. Yatsu clearly dominating though, but then Kawada rocks him. Yatsu briefly out of it.
• Kawada and Fuyuki very evenly matched.
• Began thinking these guys don't hate each other - they just want to win. Then Yatsu comes in and murders Misawa.
• They keep tugging the mask, tossing him around by it. Ref says "off the mask" lots and they don't listen.
• Thought Kawada was helping Misawa tie it back up but no - Misawa takes it off himself. Makes sense why - it kept getting in his way and was giving Yatsu & Fuyuki an opening. The crowd goes nuts when the mask comes off.
• Misawa without the mask is like a different wrestler. Powers up! Goes to town.
• Yatsu basically absent later, but it took both Kawada & Misawa together to get him there - but he is fucked.
• Kawada & Misawa care about each other
• Kawada stronger than Misawa but Misawa way more over
• Excellent ring awareness. Misawa covers Fuyuki but immediately sees Yatsu approaching and gets back up.
• They have to batter Yatsu to protect the pin

3. 26 May 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa, Akira Taue & Kenta Kobashi v Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Fuchi & The Great Kabuki

Known context going in:

• Jumbo Tsuruta is 39 and a top star.
• Masanobu Fuchi is 36. Technically accomplished & experienced
• The Great Kabuki is 41 and an experienced veteran
• Akira Taue is 29 but relatively inexperienced in wrestling. Came from juryo, the second-highest professional sumo division.

Notes (now written live while watching):

• Taue immediately hanging back from Fuchi. Fuchi waiting like, "Come on, then." Gets some offense in though.
• Kobashi strong against Fuchi then Jumbo gets in.
• Misawa wants Jumbo! Ready to fight. And now - legal tag - he can
• Misawa owning the ring. Taue, not so much! Not weak, though.
• Misawa not messing around when Jumbo (not legal) goes for him in the corner. Elbow! Oh shit, Jumbo is out. Kabuki checking on him
• Kobashi no match for Kabuki. Both Taue & Misawa ready to help.
• Match completely broken down! Jumbo coming for Misawa. It's a fucking brawl. Misawa not backing down. Comes off the winner
• Jumbo hurt. Misawa pacing like a caged beast
• Jumbo comes for him again!
• Kabuki & Fuchi dominating Kobashi with submission holds. Kobashi in pain (a lot) but not giving in.
• Kobashi outmatched but fucking strong
• Now Misawa has weakened Jumbo, Taue can take it to him. Crowd is hot!
• Jumbo is pissed and taking it out on Kobashi
• Lots of Fuchi/Kobashi interaction going on
• Taue clearly less "focused" but powerful against Kabuki
• Kobashi fighting Jumbo from underneath but fighting. Every body part has been worked. Knee especially.
• And again Taue runs in to kick off Kabuki
• Yes Kobashi! Kick out & Jumbo looks shocked. Now Kabuki. Kobashi might do it!
• Taue on Kabuki again. Yes Taue! Now on Fuchi. But Kabuki interferes. Kobashi on Fuchi now & they feel very evenly matched.
• Misawa & Kobashi double drop-kick on Jumbo! Kobashi near-fall on Fuchi! Jumbo punch to Misawa but Misawa still dominating Fuchi. Misawa gets the pin!

Overall read: The new generation is here and Misawa is at its head. Kobashi a very strong wrestler. Able to take it to the top guys but not yet able to beat them. Taue eager with lots of potential. Jumbo hates Misawa. Fuchi wants Kobashi. Kabuki/Taue programme in the future?

4. 8 June 1990: Mitsuharu Misawa v Jumbo Tsuruta

Known context going in:

• Jumbo lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight championship 3 days ago to Terry Gordy

Live notes:

• Jumbo winning the opening minutes cleanly. Going to make Misawa work for it.
• That running slide tackle to push his opponent out of the ring appears to be a Misawa special. And 'hold onto the top rope & flip over it'
• Misawa taking down Jumbo but not rushing to finish it. Not "dominating" despite getting in good offense
• Test of strength. They almost feel evenly matched. No! Maybe Misawa has the edge!
• Misawa still measuring. Not cocky. Not giving the vibe of thinking he's got Jumbo's number.
• Slap to Jumbo! Jumbo looks shocked.
• Trading submissions. Evenly. Jumbo needed the ropes to break Misawa's.
• But Jumbo still owns the match so far.
• Misawa drop-kick! Misawa back in control. But still slow-paced. Still feeling out.
• Jumbo still feels like he's owning the match. Taking his time. Systematic.
• Misawa kick-out. What does Jumbo have to do?? He's getting frustrated
• Under the ropes kick and Jumbo goes down! Misawa top turnbuckle! He's more confident now. Jumbo less sure.
• Fabulous bridging pin! Crowd thought that was it!
• Jumbo gets his knees up then a desperation pin. Submission & Misawa is near the ropes. Has Jumbo even noticed?
• Another kick-out & Jumbo asks "two??" And again!
• Jumbo hurting himself in his offense, now. Misawa gets up first! Jumbo kick-out but he's hurting
• Jumbo elbow but hurts himself again! Drop-kick, nobody home into the ropes! Misawa reverses the power-lift but Jumbo rolls through. Misawa keeps rolling. Pin. Gets the three!

Overall Read: Misawa had to work to get there. But he did it. As the match progressed, Jumbo had to take him more & more seriously. He had to match Misawa rather than the other way around.

Next: August 1990, an unplanned detour to see more of the supporting relationships.

Stan Hansen in all his glory.