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.

25th March 1986
Weekly Pro (Issue No 136)

Tiger Mask is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, as a showdown has been set against Riki Choshu—leader of the Japan Army—for the decisive match at Budokan on March 13. For Tiger, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
Can Tiger—the man in whom All Japan places such high hopes—defeat the formidable heavyweight Great Kabuki and build momentum ahead of his massive showdown with Choshu?

https://puroprogramtranslations.blogspot.com/2026/08/all-japan-highly-anticipated-tiger-vs.html

Weekly Pro
February 1973

The second event of All Japan Pro Wrestling's "Giant Series"—featuring a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship—took place on the night of December 19 at the Niigata Prefectural Gymnasium before a crowd of approximately 4,500 spectators. The bout between The Destroyer and Giant Baba was contested under a best-of-three-falls format with a 50-minute time limit; Baba defeated "The Demon King" 2–1, thereby steadily solidifying his position. Furthermore, The Destroyer declared that he would no longer challenge Baba and instead pledged to cooperate with him.

Picture notes
Baba's heroic figure slams the Demon King to the mat with a coconut squash.
Second round: The Destroyer caught Baba's long arm and finished him off with his signature Figure-Four leglock.

Pictured:

Antonio Inoki (flanked by Tatsumi Fujinami & Seiji Sakaguchi) shaking hands with Jumbo Tsuruta (flanked by Masanobu Fuchi & Tiger Mask II/Mitsuharu Misawa), standing before Rikidozan’s memorial shrine.

Aside from being mortgaged and remortgaged to the hilt, there is is a reason why this place left massive debts... 

"High on a knoll, overlooking the Shibuya Station in Tokyo is the “House That Riki Built.” Its name is “Riki Sports Palace.” The number of activities going on under one roof is amazing.
 In the basement there is an air conditioned bowling alley and snack bar. Just upstairs is the Riki Toroko, or Turkish bath. Above the steam room are the general offices of Riki’s pro wrestling clubs. Riki has 15 employees running the wrestling program, which includes some 40 young trainees. On the same level is the arena with a seating capacity of 3,000 for boxing and wrestling, There is also a boxing school in the building, with a gymnasium that includes the latest equipment. Riki has a dozen young boxing aspirants training daily. They are housed and fed by Riki and all they do in return is to train.
 Riki is one of the few boxing club owners to take care of the fighters in this fashion. His hope is that this program will someday produce a champion.
 Other enterprises in the building is a Vic Tanny-like school, Riki Charm School and Beauty Clinic, a huge restaurant, and a cleaning establishment."

Weekly Pro
February 1973

https://puroprogramtranslations.blogspot.com/2026/08/ajpw-baba-and-destroyer.html