10 Times Wrestling Feuds Crossed Over Promotions

2. Mitsuharu Misawa Vs. Kenta Kobashi

Tyson Jericho
Pro Wrestling NOAH

Mitsuharu Misawa was the Ace of All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Kenta Kobashi was the sentimental crowd favourite; he inspired a more fervent crowd reaction, but did not draw on the level of the man he pushed to his limit, closer and closer each time, in some of the greatest professional wrestling matches ever. Misawa's pristine technicality and ring IQ vanquished the threat - but not the burning spirit - of Kobashi, who came roaring back every year to mount a further challenge. He never did win the Triple Crown from Misawa, despite absorbing progressively more insane punishment between 1995 and 1999.

He did however relieve him of the GHC Heavyweight Title in 2003 in Pro Wrestling NOAH - the league Misawa formed after breaking away from AJPW following the death of Giant Baba.

In a superb spot, Misawa condensed those years of brutality and struggle by dropping Kobashi from apron to floor with a tiger suplex, informing the euphoric gravity of Kobashi's last stand comeback. Kobashi won both the title and Misawa's Ace status; he carried NOAH for two years of a mythically awesome title run.

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!