All Japan TV 3-25-93 Norton vs Kawada in the main event!
Mar 29, 2023 15:20:58 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on Mar 29, 2023 15:20:58 GMT
Sanctioned by the Pacific Wrestling Federation; Lord James Blears, chairman
Airs across Japan on Saturday, March 25, 1993 on:
Taped on March 3, 1993 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan
Announcers: Kenji Wakabayashi and Kosuke Takeuchi
Ring Announcer: Takashi Yamada
Referees: Red Shoes Unno, Tiger Hattori and Kyohei Wada
KENJI WAKABAYASHI and KOSUKE TAKEUCHI open the show.
They welcome us to this week’s episode of “All Japan Pro Wrestling”!
This week, we’ll see Terry Gordy face off with the “Super Rookie” Jun Akiyama!
Jushin Thunder Liger makes his first defense of the World Jr Heavyweight title against Ultimo Dragon!
And, the feature bout will see Toshiaki Kawada square off with Scott Norton!
TERRY GORDY beats JUN AKIYAMA. Akiyama has impressed a lot of people since he first debuted, which led to sports writers in Japan referring to him as “the Super Rookie”. However, he’s got a tough challenge ahead of him today, as he squares off with the rough and rugged Freebird, Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy!
Gordy takes control of the match immediately, using brawling and power moves to quickly wear Akiyama down. It seems like Gordy might make short work of the Super Rookie, but Akiyama won’t stay down! No matter how much of a beating he takes, he just keeps battling back! Gordy becomes frustrated, and looking to end things, he sets Akiyama up for the Powerbomb. Akiyama blocks it, and backdrops Gordy instead. As Gordy gets back to his feet, Akiyama attempts a standing dropkick, but Gordy reacts quickly, sidestepping Akiyama, and the youngster crashes to the mat.
Gordy goes back to work on Akiyama, and continues to pummel him. Akiyama continues to fight back, but it’s beoming obvious the onslaught from Gordy is taking it’s toll on Akiyama, and as we pass the 12-minute mark of the match, Gordy drives Akiyama into the mat with the Powerbomb for the 1, 2, 3.
Wakabayashi and Takeuchi talk about the Champion Carnival tour, which kicks off tonight at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo!
A highlight video airs of past Champion Carnival matches.
13 wrestlers will take part in the tournament this year!
The participating wrestlers come out to the ring:
Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa!
Toshiaki Kawada!
Steve Williams!
Terry Gordy!
Tatsumi Fujinami!
Akira Taue!
Kenta Kobashi!
Jun Akiyama!
Doug Furnas!
Dan Kroffat!
Johnny Ace!
Big Bubba!
Bobby Fulton!
AJPW WORLD JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER (champ) (1st defence) defeats ULTIMO DRAGON. This is Liger’s first defence of the title. He beat Dragon in the finals of the junior heavyweight league, to earn a shot at this title. That league final was a great match, and this one is as well!
They come out of the gate at 100 miles an hour! We see a flurry of offence from both men, but neither can come away with the advantage. Dragon grabs Liger’s leg, but before he can hit the dragon screw, Liger attempts an enziguri. Dragon ducks it, and then rolls Liger up with a Magistral cradle for a 2-count. Liger rolls out to the floor to take a breather, but Dragon runs the ropes, then dives over the top and onto Liger, sending the champion crashing into the guardrail!
Back inside, they slow things down a bit, and both men look to take out the legs of the other. Liger gains the upper hand here, and works on Dragon’s legs, looking to ground the challenger. Liger attempts a submission several times, but Dragon is always able to either escape it, or reach the ropes.
Dragon is able to fight back, and connects with a dropkick that sends Liger through the ropes and to the floor. Dragon climbs out onto the apron, and delivers the Asai Moonsault! Dragon climbs back into the ring, goes to the top rope, and as Liger gets back to his feet, Dragon dives off with a somersault, knocking Liger back down to the ground.
Back inside, Dragon connects on another Asai Moonsault, but when he goes for the cover, Liger somehow manages to get a shoulder up at the last second!
Liger takes some more punishment, before battling back and hitting the Liger Bomb! Dragon still has enough left to kick out of that. Dragon battles back, he connects with a Tiger Suplex for a nearfall, then sets Liger up on the top rope for what looks like a superplex, but Liger fights him off, knocking Dragon to the mat. Liger then delivers a missile dropkick from the top rope, but only gets a 2-count from it.
As we pass the 20-minute mark, Liger sits Dragon on the top turnbuckle, and while standing on the middle rope, Liger delivers a BRAINBUSTER!!!! Dragon sells it like he’s dead, and there’s no kicking out after that!
Liger is successful in his first defence of the World Jr Heavyweight title!
A promo video airs for SUPER BATTLE IN TOKYO DOME!
All Japan makes it’s very first trip to the Big Egg on May 3 for the biggest card in the company’s history!
Scheduled matches include:
Jushin Liger vs Tiger Mask III! Liger has won the first two matches between them, but Tiger Mask has continued to improve, and he feels this is his time to finally beat Liger!
The Miracle Violence Connection defend the World tag team titles against Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue!
WWF superstar Sting will return to Japan, as he faces Riki Choshu! Both men use the Scorpion Lock as one of their signature moves, and on May 3 we’ll find out who’s is better!
In a battle of four of the biggest names in Japan in the last 20 years, Giant Baba teams up with Genichiro Tenryu to face Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami!
And, the main event, a dream match for the Triple Crown, Mitsuharu Misawa defends the belts against the Great Muta!
TOSHIAKI KAWADA beats SCOTT NORTON. This match is quite a contrast to the previous one! Where Liger and Dragon showcased their technical and high flying abilities, Kawada and Norton simply beat the hell out of each other! Norton is bigger and stronger, but Kawada’s vicious kicks are the great equalizer here.
Norton does eventually overpower Kawada to gain the advantage, but when he sets Kawada up for a Powerbomb, Kawada backdrops Norton, then nearly takes his head off with a Lariat! Kawada lays in several stiff kicks, and then connects with the Gamegiri for the 1, 2, 3!
Wakabayashi and Takeuchi wrap things up, and hype next week’s show.
Credits Roll
© 1993, All Japan Pro Wrestling
Working on it now.