(NOAH) Noah Navigation
Weekly Pro 7th November 2000
(Issue No. 1002)
There is something Misawa always says: in a match, he wants you to put your heart and soul into it, rather than just your technique. In other words, if someone expresses their feelings to you, you should respond, even if that person is junior. That's why I was initially drawn to Shiga's (though he's no longer young talent*) approach.
A singles match against Misawa doesn't come along very often. For Shiga, who has taken action against those above him, this is nothing but an opportunity. When I asked Shiga after the match, he said he felt he had "put his heart into it"—implying that was his intention. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't enough to truly move Misawa. That is precisely why he described it merely as an *intention*—a case of "I meant to, but..."
That is not to say, however, that Misawa failed to respond in any way; far from it. The proof lies in the finishing sequence, as he came to settle the outcome with a joint lock. Throughout the match, Shiga also targeted joint locks, but failed to fully secure one. Misawa, however, managed to lock one in—and did so with a terrifyingly calm expression—in the blink of an eye.
In any case, Misawa was not unresponsive. Was the unexpected finishing move a lesson in "this is how you do it?"
Notes
Shiga: He was 26!
Normally, when a smaller opponent fights a larger one, the larger one holds an overwhelming advantage. Yet, many people root for the smaller one, hoping to see them put up a good fight.
The Akiyama vs. Kikuchi match held during the semi-finals that day was a classic example of this. The main draw was seeing how the smaller Kikuchi would manage to break down the larger, stronger Akiyama; in other words, all eyes were on Kikuchi’s performance.
However, with the intense light and poison he unleashed, Akiyama obliterated Kikuchi, who was boldly charging toward him. Even when ambushed on the entrance ramp, he handled the situation calmly; once back in the ring, he cinched in a Boston crab with crushing force, seemingly intent on demonstrating the disparity in power.
But the true highlight was the finishing sequence: a jumping knee followed by a steep-angled Exploder, culminating in an absolutely brutal Tombstone Piledriver that left Kikuchi completely unconscious—after which he secured the pin while contemptuously stepping on his opponent.
Ultimately, what left the strongest impression on the fans in the arena was not the spirited effort of the smaller man (Kikuchi), but the sheer power of the larger man (Akiyama).
Akiyama possesses the ability to be the star of any match, no matter who he's fighting. This match against Kikuchi made me realize that once again.
The first and only encounter between Kobashi and Vader in this series proved, as expected, to be a high-risk affair.
These two titans, who have engaged in fierce battles in the past, seem to instantly flip a switch the moment they face each other in the ring. Vader charged forward relentlessly—rush after rush—and Kobashi met him head-on.
Before the match, Kobashi—occupied with battles against the likes of Akiyama—had viewed Vader merely as an opponent he would eventually have to face. However, this single match made such a leisurely attitude impossible. Vader burst into Kobashi’s field of vision with speed that defied all expectations. Although this was his first tour of Japan in some time and followed a period of inactivity due to injury—leading some to question his physical condition—such concerns proved entirely unfounded.
True to the sentiment that "Noah offers opponents worth facing," Vader powered through the series with high intensity, and on this day, too, he took the fight to Kobashi. While exacting revenge on Misawa remains his primary objective, the battle against Kobashi is also a crucial theme for Vader. It is evident that this rivalry is destined to intensify further.
The two will likely clash again in the upcoming series. Their fierce, bruising battles are sure to stir up our excitement. A match between Kobashi and Vader is like gunpowder—always fraught with danger and a rare, electrifying thrill.
True to the rigorous training of professional sumo, his explosive power and impact were outstanding. As Rikio challenged Vader head-on in their first-ever one-on-one showdown, he exuded the aura of a true heavyweight star.
Yet, standing head and shoulders above the rest is Vader. Even after being hit with a perfectly executed, devastating shoulder tackle and a lariat, he remained completely unfazed. Witnessing this, Rikio was struck by the sheer magnitude of Vader's strength, thinking to himself, "It makes you wonder if knocking him down even deals any damage at all—it’s truly astonishing."
Even though the crushing defeat came quickly, Vader’s power was in a league of its own; the damage sustained in that short span was immense—so severe, in fact, that I hesitated to even speak to Rikio immediately after the match. That is why I waited until a later date to get his comments.
"I think I gave it my all. I still lost, so I guess he's really strong. I heard later that it didn't even last three minutes, but for me, time isn't the issue. Even if it goes on for a long time, it's meaningless if I don't give it my all. My immediate goal is to give it my absolute best."
"How about trying again next time?"
When I said that, Rikio looked quite pleased.
PICTURE NOTES
"The unexpected finish shows the breadth of Misawa's repertoire"
"There were only a few moments when Misawa's expression became grim".
Rikio, not intimidated by his first singles match with Vader, went to take him down with a powerful charge.
"The mere sight of Kobashi and Vader glaring at each other, immediately creates a palpable tension in the arena"
"Even after the match, Vader continued to confront Kobashi. (If you look closely, you can see his thumb is in Kobashi's eye)"
"Pay attention to Shiga's facial expressions. It's not just his fighting style that has changed."
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