MOTW 115: Kenta Kobashi vs Stan Hansen
"M.O.T.W. #115: Kenta Kobashi vs. Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen" - ink & digital illustration
We're up to the 115th edition of our 'Match of the Week' illustration series & this week we find ourselves once again in the wonderful world of 90s All Japan Pro Wrestling for (what I don't think it's overstating it in saying), one of the greatest Professional Wrestling matches of all time!
This mind-blowingly great, incredibly physical encounter took place on September 29th, 1993 on Day 22 of AJPW's Summer Action Series '93 at the always magical big-event home of All Japan & NOAH; Budokan Hall.
My gosh, where do I start on this one?! There is oh so much to love! I mean in general, what I think I adore most about this is just how much it feels like a FIGHT!
We find ourselves a few matches into the epic rivalry between these two here, so both are very well-acquainted with one another. And you get that right out of the gate in the furious energy with which Kobashi comes at the giant West Texas Cowboy. And from that point, the fight is on!
Every swing in momentum in this feels earned (often via blunt force trauma) and it just keeps escalating in brutality & reckless abandon as it goes on. We see the wear & tear on Kobashi's face about mid-match. But that just adds fuel to the fire.
As most Hansen matches do, the real beauty of this is how organic it feels. How reactive & the spur of the moment chaos that is so, so satisfying to watch. Like a very violent form of jazz. This thing is art of the highest order for me.
Too many magical moments to name here but dang, that finish was so, so awesome! Kobashi's never-ending fire is just a heck of a thing to see. And man, that white-hot 90s All Japan Budokan crowd may just be the greatest Pro Wrestling audience there ever was! It doesn't get any better than this for me. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended!
ENJOY!
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