Kings Road Chronicles

10 years ago man. How the f**k is this 10 years old!?

Doesn’t even need a description does it, all I know is that I can watch this and it instantly brings me joy. I hope it brings you joy too.

PWG. I miss you.

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Not so long ago, before Yuma Anzai even stepped foot into the All Japan Dojo let alone had MOTY contenders with Kento - the Best of the Best had another rival.

For 3 years, across Champion Carnivals, Tag Leagues and Triple Crown matches, the Ace of All Japan was chased by his NEXTREAM stable mate and one of the preeminent tag team specialists in the company; Naoya Nomura.

“Chased” would be an understatement. For almost the entire length of Miyahara’s 519 day title run with the Triple Crown, Nomura was like a man possessed - singularly driven to prove he was as good as him. While many would argue that Kento elevated opponents like Jake Lee, Zeus and even Suwama in the late 2010s, no one could say that for Nomura. He was the big match opponent, they elevated each other.

Sadly, Nomura never got his run as the face of the company. Always coming up short against Kento and most unfortunate of all, suffering a horrendous neck injury in 2020 that sidelined him for 2 years. That he came back at all was a miracle, but he was never really pushed again as a singles star. Now a freelancer, he spends his time working Suwamas Pro Wrestling Evolution, Tenryu Project and GLEAT.

He’s still only 32 though, there’s still hope.

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One year later in the Budokan and the title scene has changed dramatically. At Summer Action in July, Williams did the unthinkable and defeated Mitsuharu Misawa to end his legendary 705 day reign as Triple Crown Champion.

To many, Misawa was due a break. Having been injured multiple times throughout his run, he’d been the main event in All Japan for almost 3 whole years. To others though, Williams was not the favourite to win the title. Despite being a Gaijin mainstay, the other Pillars would have been preferred - especially since Misawa had defeated Kawada in June, for many one of the greatest matches of all time.

So Williams needed a defence - and a good one. Time to bring out the reliable dance partner in Kenta Kobashi. A year and 4 days on from their contender classic, Kobashi had changed considerably. Having gained a lot of muscle, he could match Williams in strength now, but still pull off ridiculous moonsaults.

For some, this match easily proves that Williams was worthy of the Triple Crown. While he may have been used as a transitional champion for Kawada, he proved that when given the main event he could deliver.

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33 years ago today inside a packed Nippon Budokan, Steve Williams had his first crack against the nigh invincible Mitsuharu Misawa during his 705 day title reign.

It might be not regarded as a classic today, largely because it’s overshadowed by Williams defeating Kobashi 4 days previously - but to me that’s unfair considering how ridiculously strong All Japan was in 1993. The real significance comes in how All Japan presented Williams as a terrifying, almost unstoppable gaijin monster - who literally takes some absolutely sickening elbows from Misawa and keeps getting up.

That in part is the real story of the match. With Williams throwing bombs and trying to land the Dangerous Backdrop, Misawa is playing chess - strategically taking apart Williams wherever he can. It becomes apparent that Misawa is simply trying to survive Williams while chopping away at him.

Even in loss though, Williams had arrived. What’s fascinating is that this is almost a prototype for the Williams/Misawa rivalry that would become even better in 1994 - when finally Misawa’s reign would end.

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26 years ago, Stan Hansen would perform in his last ever main event inside the Budokan. A full house showed up, despite The Lariat being 51 years old at this point and carrying back issues - 16,300 fans got to witness one last win in the iconic building.

Yes, the match isn’t a classic - of course it’s not. With All Japan in crisis following the Misawa led-exodus, the company had turned to the likes of Hansen, Kawada and a returning Tenryu to help carry the company while it refilled its depleted roster. Hansen of course duly obliged, despite being nowhere near his best anymore - his love for the company pushed him to keep performing.

With only 5 matches left in his career, Hansens time was passing, The Cowboy was about ride off into the sunset.

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33 years ago today inside Aichi City Gymnasium, 3,100 All Japan fans witnessed one of the most infamous finishes of all.

To many, it’s the greatest match of Steve Williams career and one of the finest examples of pure physical wrestling to ever be seen, as well as the coming-of-age match of a young Kenta Kobashi.

While Williams had already established himself as one of the most terrifying Gaijin in the company, Kobashi was still finding himself as a singles star, living in the shadow of Mitsuharu Misawa. With both men chasing the Emerald Warrior, currently in the first half of his 705 day reign as Triple Crown Champion - a collision was inevitable. For Kobashi and for literally anyone with eyes and a brain, it was imperative that he avoided Williams nuclear weapon: The Dangerous Backdrop; a terrifying move, a move that looked like death no matter who took it.

…and then it happens. And for a moment, a crowd holds its breath in fear as Kobashi is dropped full force onto his head. Williams makes the cover, 1…2…AND KOBASHI KICKS OUT.

What follows is almost unbelievable. Williams hits another Dangerous Backdrop and somehow Kobashi survives again. By this point Kobashi is essentially functioning on instinct, staggering around the ring and barely able to remain upright. Williams finally delivers a third backdrop, this time bridging into the pin.

In an instant, Williams is elevated as a believable threat to Misawa and Kobashi even in loss, was taking a step towards becoming an unstoppable legend.

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