#141: Kenta Kobashi & Akihito Ito vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Pro Wrestling NOAH Global Tag League (5/6/2009).
This is the one and only time that Kenta Kobashi and Kazuchika Okada shared a ring together.
Just like I had done when I discovered that Hiroshi Tanahashi once wrestled Kenta Kobashi, I also got hyped when I found out Kobashi also once wrestled Kazuchika Okada. Now, to be fair, Okada is a Young Lion here - no where close to the Rainmaker that he would become. Still, the prospect of seeing a legend and a future legend together is too much to pass up.
Okada somehow looks like less of a dork than when he came back from excursion in 2012. How is that possible as a Young Lion?
I don't expect much from this, but just the sight of Okada and Kobashi in the Ring together is enough to get me hyped for this.
Tenzan wants Kobashi, and that's how this match starts. They lock up, and there's a stalemate. Mongolian Chops from Tenzan, and a proper chest chop from Kobashi. They repeat this, until Tenzan connects with a spinning heel kick.
Ito cuts Okada off with a dropkick. Tenzan sends Kobashi into the barricade, while Okada hits a senton to the floor on Ito. Back in the Ring, Tenzan forces Kobashi to the turnbuckle, and here comes Okada. He chops at Kobashi. Bad idea, kiddo.
Kobashi peppers him with a chop, and another that drops him. Ito tags in, and kicks the shit out of the future Rainmaker. Nice back elbow from Ito, and now he and Okada exchange forearms.
Powerslam by Ito. He applies a Camel Clutch next. Kobashi tags in, and he chops Okada right on the throat. He follows with one to the back of the head for a nearfall. Kobashi gets a chin lock on next. Another chop in the corner, and Okada tries fighting him and Ito with forearms. Kobashi chops him again, and he falls.
Ito tags in, and places all his weight on Okada's chest. They exchange forearms, followed by slaps to the chest. Ito stomps away at the back of his head. Ito knocks Tenzan off the apron, and Okada hits a beautiful dropkick. Tenzan beats the shit out of Ito on the floor. He Irish whips Ito into the steel barricade.
Okada applies the Camel Clutch next. Kobashi comes in and chops Okada's back once, then calmly returns to his corner. Tenzan rakes the eyes of Ito, and they shoulder tackle him down. Tenzan locks in the Half Crab submission.
Ito tries to fight back, and gets slapped for it. Huge clothesline from Tenzan, and that gets a 2 count. Okada tags in, and gets a drop toe hold off, followed by a Tenzan headbutt and an Okada dropkick for 2.
He eggs Kobashi on, which isn't wise. Okada stomps away at Ito in the corner, then slaps him. Okada trips him, and tags Tenzan in. They stretch his legs apart. Tenzan talks trash to Kobashi, then headbutts Ito.
Tenzan boots Ito out of the corner, and levels him with a huge lariat. Tenzan tries for a Suplex, but Ito counters with one of his own. Kobashi tags in, and he unloads with machine gun chops to Tenzan in the corner. Tenzan responds with Mongolian Chops.
Kobashi with more chops to the chest, and he's somehow getting faster. Now he does the Mongolian Chops to Tenzan! He follows with a spinning back chop. Tenzan almost gets planted with a Half Nelson, but Okada dropkicks Kobashi.
He holds Kobashi in place, and Tenzan connects with the diving headbutt for 2. Tenzan with the Anaconda Vice, but Ito is in to make the save. Tenzan headbutts him, and sends him to the floor.
Kobashi with more chops, and Tenzan with some headbutts. Kobashi connects with a lariat to the back of the head. Ito tags in, and goes right to forearms with Okada. The Rainmaker hits a beautiful dropkick.
A Shotgun dropkick follows, and then an STO for a nearfall. Okada goes to the top rope, and Kobashi holds him in place. Tenzan has Ito on his shoulders, and Okada comes off the ropes with a clothesline! He covers, and Kobashi breaks the hold.
Ito with a quick nearfall on Okada. Kobashi and Tenzan fight on the floor. Okada dives off the top, and eats a dropkick on the way down from Ito. They exchange forearms, and Ito slaps the shit out of him.
Ito tries a German Suplex, but Okada holds onto the ropes. Kobashi chops his hands, and Ito hits the Suplex. Okada kicks out. Kobashi goes after Tenzan on the floor, while Ito applies the Boston Crab in the Ring. Okada crawls to the ropes, and Ito drags him back to the middle!
Tenzan fights Kobashi off, then breaks the submission. He and Ito slap each other, and then Kobashi tags in. Ito dropkicks Tenzan, while Okada dropkicks Kobashi, who responds with a simple but violent lariat to get the win.
This was a lot more fun that I imagined it would be. I know Kobashi around this time was sticking strictly to the undercard of these NOAH events, but he was still so enthralling to watch at this time. The whole match was your basic Japanese undercard tag, but I had a blast watching Kobashi just beat the shit out of a young Okada.
Credit to the future Rainmaker, though. He had a lot of fire in this, and the arrogance he would show against Tanahashi was on full display as he egged Kobashi on, and stood toe to toe with him throughout this. The ending to this made me laugh out loud, as it took Kobashi one single lariat to crush Okada for the win. Could you imagine that happening today to Okada in AEW?
Ah hell, if anyone could do it, it's Kobashi.
Really fun match overall, and one that the interactions really make.