ALL TIME MOTY LIST Head to Head 1998:Kandori v. Hotta V. Vader/Hansen v. Kobashi/Akiyama

Vader/Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi/Jun Akiyama (AJPW 12/5/98)

ER: It's kind of criminal that Hansen and Vader hardly ever teamed, with only 5 traditional tag matches making tape. These two were great enough that after just a few teamings they already seemed like two guys that had been teaming for years, clearly two hosses cut from the same cloth. They're a combined 30+ years older than their opponents, and these two being on the same side leads to the greatest versions of tag tropes, two big bulls cutting off the ring and stiffing the hell out of the good guys. It's pure joy right from go, watching Hansen charge out to the ring ahead of Vader, swinging his bullrope at a handsy fan while Vader slowly lurks behind. You haven't lived until you've seen Hansen holding Kobashi prone while Vader punches him in the nose and throat, then turns around and lariats the hell out of Akiyama on a save attempt. Akiyama foolishly tries a northern lights on Vader, and Vader just belly flops to block, sending Akiyama face first into the mat under him. Hansen taunts Kobashi while he punches Akiyama in the face and the two show how to have an actual interesting slap fight. Hansen rips Kobashi apart on the floor and then Vader smooshes him a bunch, unleashing stiff punches and clotheslines and a huge avalanche. Hansen wants more and kicks Kobashi right in the spine.

I really love old man Hansen. His movements (like rope running) are more rigid, but it doesn't make him any less active in matches; he still is constantly moving and throwing, his age just adds a touch of vulnerability, whereas his vulnerability in his "younger" years was him being reckless and getting caught. Vader works slow and sinister, slapping Akiyama harder than most people can handle being slapped, and we get this glorious run of Hansen and Vader spending minutes literally just falling on Akiyama/Kobashi. Big splashes and elbowdrops for days. Hansen has the best "Get up, you pussy" mocking kicks to the face. The finish is pretty excellent in its simplicity and suddenness. Hansen and Vader had dominated for so long that a comeback wouldn't seem genuine. They had dispatched Akiyama on the floor minutes earlier, I had forgotten about him, and clearly Hansen had as well. The camera work was perfect as we peer over Kobashi's shoulder at a menacing Hansen readying his arm for the lariat, looking like a killer closing in on helpless prey in a slasher flick, and we see Akiyama climbing the turnbuckles in the background, and we see Kobashi seeing it, and Hansen not seeing it. A leaping knee to the back of the head right into a Kobashi lariat to the side of the neck, a believable combo to get a quick 3. Afterwards, Hansen and Vader rightfully kick the shit out of them, the losers walking out on their own, while the winners need to be helped up to accept their trophy.

PAS: Man Vader and Hansen are a killer team of fat monsters, I can't think of a better Godzilla and King Kong team up. It is a shame they didn't have a longer run as a tag team. Can you imagine Vader/Hansen mauling the Rock and Roll Express or having a punch out with the Steiners? Not only were they throwing big bombs, but all of the smaller bombs looked great. Vicious slaps by Vader, these tiny nose breaking punches by Hansen. Both Kobashi and Akyama are big guys, but they looked pretty ineffectual getting smushed by Vader and Hansen, so much of wrestling these days are guys working 50/50 no matter what the size, so it is good to watch guys fighting from below like this. I liked the idea of the finish a lot, although it just didn't seem reasonable for any pair of moves to put down Hansen, he seems like such a force of nature. I did love Vader and Hansen killing them after the bell, no handshakes and appreciative hugs from them.

Kandori v. Hotta review

PAS: I really enjoyed the tag match, although it felt more like a look at an all-time great team, then an all-time great match. Hotta v. Kandori was such a horrifically violent revelation and it keeps the belt. 

ER: I really loved both of these matches, although this one is more my actual favorite style of pro wrestling. I thought the structure of this was great and thought the ending was masterfully executed and filmed. I think Kandori/Hotta might be the "better" match, but I've watched this match twice and will likely watch it again before I rewatch the joshi singles. Still, the champ retains.