10 Holy Sh*t Wrestling Moments You Didn’t Know About

9. Kenta Kobashi Suplexes Mitsuharu Misawa Off A Ramp

Darby Allin
Pro Wrestling NOAH

If the GIF doesn't plunge your stomach into your anus, you should watch the match.

You should watch the legendary March 1, 2003 GHC Heavyweight Title match if you've never seen it regardless, because it's a masterpiece: it distilled the great, decade-long struggle that Kenta Kobashi faced to unseat Mitsuharu Misawa as the Ace of the King's Road. This deranged spot best captured the story beat and Kobashi's undying fire.

The distance didn't matter.

You've likely seen several bumps launched from greater heights that drew actual "Holy sh*t!" chants from a North American audience. The Budokan crowd in 2003 instead reacted with silenced astonishment. The superb direction captured one young punter wearing an expression of stunned disbelief. The Tiger suplex was executed to perfection. It didn't feel that way in the moment, but under scrutiny, Kobashi took the bump across the flat of his back.

It scanned as a true Holy Sh*t moment because it was built towards and registered with such immaculate suspense. In wrestling, it's all in the sell, and Misawa and Kobashi were such masters that this felt like a far steeper plunge than it actually was.

In this post: 
Darby Allin
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!