The Super Generation Army conducted a summer intensive training camp. From left to right: Kikuchi, Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi, Akira Taue (August 1990, Kazusa-Ichinomiya Coast, Chiba Prefecture)
三澤光晴 vs 川田利明 意外的卡拉OK大混戰
Original source
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada – An unexpected karaoke brawl。
This year again comes the anniversary of the death of Mr. Mitsuharu Misawa (June 13). Let’s take a short break and talk about Mr. Misawa.
He was like an older brother to me. We were only four years apart. When I joined, I can’t forget the way he smiled at me through his mask. So, after I entered the dormitory, I naturally came to admire Mr. Misawa, and he treated me kindly. At that time, his daughter had just started to walk, and he brought her to the dojo. While Mr. Misawa was training, I would play with her. I was already a good babysitter at age 20 (laughs).
It was during this time that Mr. Misawa created the move “Tiger Suplex ‘85” (Spinning Tiger Driver). A photographer came for an interview and asked us to demonstrate a new move. In such situations, I was usually the one taking the move. At that time, Mr. Misawa was thinking deeply, and I suggested, “How about starting from a double underhook and then dropping like this?” I might be considered a “co-creator” of that technique (laughs).
Although Mr. Misawa had already left the dormitory at the time, when going to Korakuen Hall, he would often have me ride in the taxi with him. At that time, he was still the second-generation Tiger Mask. Though we would casually chat before the Suidobashi intersection, once there, he would be mindful of the fans’ eyes, hide inside the car, and put on his mask. Every time, the taxi drivers would be shocked. “Oh, is he a robber?” Sometimes they would slam the brakes in surprise. I thought, “Wouldn’t they already know I’m a wrestler when I got in the car?” (laughs)
We trained hard and also drank a lot. Mr. Misawa was the type who would drink all the way until morning. I, on the other hand, was the type to shout, “Bottoms up!” during the lively moments. Though our drinking styles were different, we both drank heavily. After Mr. Misawa took off his mask and formed the Super Generation Army, we would often go out drinking after regional shows. Now it’s hard to believe — that our team consisted of Mr. Misawa, me, Mr. Toshiaki Kawada, and Mr. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.
The silhouette of Mr. Misawa always in front of me. Sweating together with the second-generation Tiger Mask.
I think enough time has passed that it’s okay now. This happened more than twenty years ago. We all went to a karaoke place, and Mr. Misawa and Mr. Kawada, both drunk, got into a big fight.
The cause was something trivial, maybe about whether to sing or not… The two of them stood up, and Mr. Kikuchi and I turned pale with fear.
I held back Mr. Misawa, yelling, “Mr. Misawa, calm down!” But Mr. Kawada shook off Mr. Kikuchi’s hold and punched Mr. Misawa square in the face. Since Mr. Misawa was being held, he couldn’t defend himself. Even though they were both drunk, it was certainly not a good thing...
As a result, Mr. Misawa got a big black eye, but he still participated in the next day’s matches (*Mr. Misawa took part in two matches, while Mr. Kawada missed one). Whenever someone asked what happened, he would show a very displeased look — a facial expression that remains unforgettable.
After the Super Generation Army disbanded and we started competing for the championship belts, we never drank together again. Because the opponent is someone you must fight with your life, you can't drink with them.
Mr. Misawa was the strongest opponent I ever fought.
In July 1996, I achieved my dream of becoming the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and the Super Generation Army disbanded. After my first title defense against Stan Hansen, I had my third title defense match against Mr. Misawa again on January 20 of the following year in Osaka.
At that time, I hit a wall. The voices saying “Kobashi is the champion, but Misawa is the leader” were overwhelmingly dominant. What is a leader? What is a champion? Every day, I asked myself in the ring. At that time, the Triple Crown match with Mr. Misawa was decided. I couldn’t afford to lose. I had reached a certain resolution.
This story is now quite well-known, but on the night before that match, I made a phone call to my mother and told her, “Even if I die, please don’t hate Mr. Misawa.” That was the one and only time I ever said something like that. That’s how I felt at the time.
The legendary ringside battle. Every match against Misawa was desperate.
In that match, I gave it everything I had. I tried to perform an outside powerbomb from the ring apron, aiming to slam Mr. Misawa — who weighed about 110 kilograms at the time — to the outside. However, in the All Japan Pro Wrestling rings at the time, the ring apron space was relatively narrow, and I couldn’t stand with my legs apart. In other words, I attempted to throw the 110-kilogram Mr. Misawa outside while standing with my feet together. However, in an instant, the clever Mr. Misawa reversed it into a Huracan Rana (inverted headscissors takedown). In the end, after a fierce 43-minute battle, I lost the match. I was no longer the leader, and no longer the champion...
But my body still remembers. That match — the roar from the packed crowd at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium surged like a giant wave toward the ring, pushing me forward onto the battlefield. It was like a hot wind blowing. I could feel that I had moved the hearts of the fans. That match certainly left a deep impression. I had been struggling mentally, but at that moment, I felt like I found an answer. Ultimately, our rematch in October that year was chosen as Match of the Year.
My matches with Mr. Misawa were always about us pushing each other, striving to surpass ourselves. When I attacked him with a certain move, he would strike back with an even stronger blow. That went on repeatedly. We were rivals who could climb to the peak together.
In the GHC Heavyweight match we had on March 1, 2003 — one of the matches after NOAH was established — that was undoubtedly the final battle between me and Mr. Misawa. Truly, he was the best opponent I ever fought. I received the Match of the Year award three times. In and out of the ring, he was a great senior. No matter how much I talk, I can’t fully express my gratitude to him. Being able to participate in the “Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial Night” (on the 13th, at Korakuen Hall) and serve as a TV commentator — to face Mr. Misawa’s portrait on his memorial day — you could say that was a kind of blessing.
Kobashi (front) delivers his special move “Burning Hammer” to Misawa (back) (March 2003, Nippon Budokan).
Mr. Misawa, I have already retired. You were watching me, weren’t you? Now, I truly wish we could sit down again, talk slowly, and have a drink together. (To be continued)
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