By Justin Baisden

Personally, I feel that this particular tour was the second last "great one" before the big split of All Japan. The last great tour was The Excite Series 2000 (I'll get to that sometime down the road). This is probably the best tape I own out of 1999 and after you read this review you'll understand why.

KENTA KOBASHI vs MITSUHARU MISAWA (Triple Crown)
Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa have had some epic battles over the course of the last few years. Most people think that their match on 1/97 was the best one. Others argue that 10/98 was the best out of the bunch. Well… no one really knows for sure. I do know this though; both of the above two matches took MOTY honours for their respective years and guess what? Their match in 1999 would do it again. Long feel out process to start. The first ten minutes is completely mat oriented. The mat stuff is broken with Misawa hitting a gutwrench suplex for a quick two count. Back to a vertical base and they go back and forth with the chops and elbow smashes. Ugh… I'll never understand what possesses a person to be willing to take that kind of damage. Kobashi eventually takes control with two twirling chops to the neck followed up with a gutbuster for a two count. Kobashi hits a delayed vertical face buster for 2 and ½. Kobashi goes for a kitchen sink but Misawa rolls through and hits the twirling clothesline. Kobashi falls to the outside and Misawa goes right after him. He attempts an elbow smash from the apron to the floor but Kobashi powerslams him. OUCH!!! They get to the apron and Kobashi fires off two arm breakers. Then he throws Misawa into the guardrail arm first. OH BOY… HERE WE GO! Remember my review from NYGS 1997? If you don't remember or didn't read it, go read it now and come back. CONTINUITY OVER 2 AND ½ YEARS PEOPLE! They fight on the apron and Kobashi gets in FOUR arm breakers. Back in the ring and Kobashi continues to work over the arm with two consecutive elbowlock DDT's. Kobashi goes for the first big move in a half nelson suplex but Misawa blocks. Kobashi switches into a jumping juji gatame and THE CROWD ERUPTS! Misawa is flailing all over the place but eventually gets to the ropes. Kobashi slaps on a kneeling arm bar and then segues that into a Fujiwara arm bar but Misawa rolls through and hits a DDT. Kobashi to the outside while Misawa looks for some kind of chainsaw to get rid of his limp arm. Kobashi climbs to the apron and attempts to hit Misawa with a hardcore suplex but he lands on his feet and then hits Kobashi with a belly to back suplex from the apron to the floor. Back in the ring and Misawa hits a missile dropkick followed up with a frog splash for 2 and ¾. Kobashi heads to the apron and Misawa attempts a tiger driver from the apron to the floor. Kobashi manages to block and backdrop Misawa to the floor. Kobashi goes for a half nelson suplex on the floor but Misawa blocks so Kobashi settles for throwing Misawa into the guardrail. Misawa no sells and comes right back with a running elbow smash but Kobashi ducks that and hits A HALF NELSON SUPLEX ON THE FLOOR!!! EEEWWW!!! MISAWA IS DEAD!!! Both guys look pretty spent. Kobashi tries to suplex Misawa back into the ring but Misawa slips out. He goes for a German suplex but Kobashi gets a standing switch and fires off a German suplex of his own for 2 and ½. Kobashi hits a powerbomb - hotshot combo. NICE!!! Kobashi hits THE ORANGE CRUSH! 1… 2… 2.99999! Kobashi hulks up and THIS CROWD IS JACKED! Kobashi hits the big moonsault for 2 and 9/10. Kobashi hulks up one more time and puts Misawa on the top. He goes for THE BURNING HAMMER but Misawa has none of that and tries to elbow Kobashi. Kobashi moves out to the apron and WALLOPS Misawa with a BIG TIME lariat. Kobashi goes for another lariat but Misawa ducks and hits a released German suplex. Kobashi no sells and fires off THE LARIATOOOOOO!!! But Misawa manages to block and cinch up Kobashi for the Tiger driver. However, Kobashi blocks that so Misawa turns it around into a Tiger suplex for 2 and 3/4. Misawa goes for the Tiger Driver yet again but Kobashi manages to block. Misawa musters up everything he has left and hits THE TIGER DRIVER '91!!! 1… 2… 2.99999! HOLY SHIT!!! Misawa hulks up and waits for Kobashi to get up. Waiting… waiting… ROLLING ELBOOOOOW… BUT ITS' DUCKED! Kobashi fires off Tiger Suplex '85 and THE HEAT IS OFF THE CHARTS! And now Kobashi hulks up… waiting… waiting… and hits THE LARIATOOOOOO!!! 1… 2… 2.99999! DEAR GOD, they're going to kill themselves. Kobashi goes for another lariat but Misawa clocks him with an elbow smash followed up with a rolling elbow smash. Misawa cinches up Kobashi and hits a BRIDGING TIGER SUPLEX '85! THAT HAS GOT TO BE IT! 1… 2… 2.9999! Sweet Jesus, this is amazing. Misawa has no choice but to pull out the trump card and hits THE EMERALD FROSION!!! 1… 2… COUNTO THREEEEEE! What an incredible match. The time of the match was 43:40. These guys worked really hard and the heat was awesome, making an already amazing match seem all the better. *****

KENTA KOBASHI/TOSHIAKI KAWADA vs MITSUHARU MISAWA/AKIRA TAUE
No… you're not reading that wrong. This screwed up tag match actually happened, and wasn't too bad at all. The respective faces start out but it goes nowhere. Tag to Taue who goes for a suplex but Kobashi blocks and comes back with a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Tag to Kawada to a HUGE POP from the crowd. Is this guy over? HELL YEAH!!! Kawada brings the pain with all sorts of chops and stiff kicks. Taue responds with some chops of his own and a lariat. Tag to Misawa to another huge pop. Nothing says fun like watching Kawada and Misawa beat the shit out of each other. They go back and forth with elbow smashes. Misawa fires off a running elbow smash but Kawada no sells that wussy shit and fires off a NASTY running giri! CHEW ON THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY TEETH LEFT GREEN BOY! Misawa plays booker in peril as Kobashi and Kawada beat the crap out of him. Hot tag to Taue who hits the Nodowa Ososhi for 2 and ¾. Taue goes for another Nodowa but Kobashi reverses into a DDT. Tag to Kawada and now the two soldiers of the Unholy Army go back and forth no selling just about everything in sight. Lots of fun watching these two beat each other senseless. Tag to Misawa who clocks Kawada with an elbow smash followed up with the tiger driver for 2 and ½. Misawa charges in for an elbow smash but eats some boot to the face. Tag to Kobashi who hits Misawa with a powerbomb into the turnbuckle. He goes for the moonsault but Taue cuts him off and throws him from the top to the floor. UGH… that's got to hurt. Kobashi is in perfect position for Misawa's elbow suicida. Back in the ring and Taue hits a powerbomb followed up with a Misawa frog splash for 2 and 9/10. Taue goes for The Dynamic Bomb but gets backdropped. Unfortunately for Kobashi, Misawa is right there to clock him with an elbow smash. Now Taue hits The Dynamic Bomb for 2 and 9/10. Taue goes for the Nodowa but Kobashi blocks. Kawada runs in and fires off a jumping head kick followed up by a charging Kobashi who hits THE LARIATOOOOOO! For the three count. Huh? OK… well the ending came out of nowhere but the match was great. ****

TEAM NO FEAR vs HAYABUSA/JINSEI SHINZAKI
WOO HOO! Hayabusa and Jinsei rule it! No Fear well… I don't like them very much. The fact they're facing one of my favourite teams doesn't make me like them any better. Lots of mat work to start. Fast-forward a bit to the point where Jinsei has Omori by the arm and goes for the praying rope walk. Takayama tries to cut it off but Jinsei jumps off and nails him with a chop. He turns around just to be nailed with a DDT by Omori. Jinsei plays No Fear's bitch for a good portion of the match until Omori goes for a kick and Jinsei catches him in La Mandhari. Tag to Hayabusa who hits a springboard chop, which sends Omori to the outside. Hayabusa hits a moonsault from the top to the floor. In the ring, Jinsei slams Takayama, Hayabusa comes off with a springboard senton, followed up by Jinsei with a springboard kneedrop, then followed up by Hayabusa with a Quebrada moonsault, and then Jinsei comes off the top with a praying shoulderblock for a two count. Tag to Hayabusa who hits a springboard leg lariat for two. Hayabusa hits a fisherman's buster for 2 and ½. Irish whip and Hayabusa charges in only to be kicked in the face and take a hart attack clothesline. Tag to Omori who goes for a German suplex but Hayabusa flips out of it and hits a spinning leg lariat. Tag to Jinsei who hits a springboard dropkick. Jinsei goes for the praying powerbomb but Omori slips out. He charges in but is met with a rana. However, Omori rolls through into a sunset flip for 2 and ½. Tag to Takayama who charges in but is met with a drop toe hold followed up with the straight jacket submission. I LOVE THAT MOVE! Omori tries to make the save but Jinsei has none of that and catches the leg in La Mandhari. Tag to Hayabusa who gets in a couple of kicks. Takayama no sells and nails Hayabusa with a knee lift for the ages as Hayabusa literally goes flying back. Tag to Omori and they hit Hayabusa and Jinsei with stereo butterfly suplexes. No Fear hits Hayabusa with a delayed double vertical suplex for 2 and 9/10. Takayama goes for a doctor bomb but Hayabusa flips out of it, slaps Takayama in the face and fires off a Tiger suplex for 2 and ¾. Hayabusa hits a bodyslam and follows up with a GORGEOUS firebird splash but Omori makes the save at 2 and ¾. Tag to Jinsei who gets beat on by Takayama. No Fear hits The Double Fear Bomb (is there a proper name for that move?) on Hayabusa and then Omori hits a legdrop on Jinsei for 2 and ¾. Omori to the top and he hits a flying kneedrop but Hayabusa makes the save at 2 and ¾. Omori goes for the Axe Bomber but Jinsei hits him with a kick to the gut and follows up with an enziguri. Jinsei focuses the chi and hits The Praying Powerbomb for 2 and 9/10. Jinsei tries to step it up and goes for The Praying Thunderfire Powerbomb but Omori slips out and hits THE AXE BOMBAAAAAA! 1… 2… 2.99999! Omori hits a Dragon suplex for 2 and 9/10. Omori hits another AXE BOMBAAAAAA! and that gets the three count. This was a damn good match and that's coming from someone that doesn't like Team No Fear all that much. ****

THE MOVEMENT vs THE BURNING (Double Tag Titles)
What was that you say? Another kick ass match on this tape? OF COURSE!!! The Burning lay the smack down on the poor gaijin with lots of different double team moves for the first few minutes. Akiyama goes for a suplex but Barton blocks and responds with a DELAAAAAAAYED vertical suplex for a two count. Akiyama takes all sorts of beatings as Ace and Barton work mercilessly work over the back. Barton and Ace hit The Double Impact (I think that's it, can someone clarify what goes into the move so I can be sure?) but Akiyama kicks out at 2 and ¾. Ace goes for a lariat but Akiyama ducks and hits a belly to back suplex. Tag to Kobashi who goes for the half nelson suplex but it's blocked. Ace responds with an Ace Crusher but that's blocked as well. Kobashi to the second turnbuckle on the inside for a flying shoulderblock but Ace catches him in an Ace Crusher. Barton jumps in and they hit a sweet side salto - legdrop combination for 2 and ½. Barton goes for a lariat but Kobashi has none of that crap. He lays in a chop and fires off a half nelson suplex. Tag to Akiyama who hits a Northern lights suplex for 2 and ½. He hits a flying kneedrop for 2 and ½. Kobashi comes in and The Burning hit a powerbomb - belly to back combination for 2 and ¾. Akiyama hits an EXPLOIDAAAAAAH! 1… 2… 2.9! Akiyama goes for another but Ace makes the save and hits Akiyama with an Ace Crusher. Meanwhile… BARTON IS DEAD! Tag to Kobashi who hits a Jackknife powerbomb for 2 and ¾. Kobashi goes for a chop but it's blocked and Barton CLOCKS him with a brutally stiff left hand. Ugh… that was not pretty. Tag to Ace who goes for a flying shoulderblock but gets nailed with a lariat in mid air. Tag to Akiyama who goes for a flying forearm into the corner but misses and Ace hits an Ace Crusher for 2 and 9/10. Ace puts Akiyama on the top for a Super Ace Crusher but Kobashi makes the save. The Burning hit a powerbomb - high cross bodyblock combination for 2 and 9/10. Barton jumps in and nails Akiyama with The Barton Spike and then Ace follows that up with a RUNNING ACE CRUSHER! 1… 2… 2.99999! Oh man… the near falls are KILLING me. The Movement hit THE DOUBLE IMPACT but Kobashi makes the save at 2 and ¾. Ace locks in The Cobra Clutch and takes Akiyama over in the Cobra Clutch suplex and that gets the victory and The Double Tag Titles. This was a damn good match. ****1/4

YOSHINARI OGAWA vs KENTARO SHIGA (PWF Jr. Title)
GOD DAMN IT… so much for the kick ass streak of matches. I don't care whether Misawa likes this guy or not, Ogawa is a HORRIBLE worker and disgraces the Jr. Title in every way possible. I have only seen one good singles match and that was against Yoshihiro Kakihara who literally kicked the shit out of Ogawa from pillar to post. His pain is my pleasure. Shiga is a good worker but he's not winning this match and everyone knows it. Guess what that means…NO HEAT! YES… CLIPPING!!! Shiga pulls out all sorts of awesome variations on the DDT, a lot of which I have never seen before. He pulls off a straight jacket tornado DDT but Ogawa no sells. WHAT? How do you no sell something like that? Whatever… Ogawa hits two moves and finishes with a bridging belly to back suplex. Ugh… ** for Shiga's creativity and variations on the DDT.

THE UNHOLY ARMY vs TEAM NO FEAR
DIE NO FEAR, DIE DIE DIE! Omori signs his life over to Kawada by slapping him in the face. Oh man… how fucked in the head are you when you slap Dangerous K of all people? This match was literally FIFTEEN MINUTES of Kawada and Taue beating the shit out of No Fear with the usual ass kicking goodness. All of a sudden No Fear pulls this bullshit comeback and pins Dynamic T. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP! The Unholy Army carried this match entirely. **1/2

Final Analysis: Lets see… three ****+ matches and one ***** Match Of The Year. GET THIS TAPE AND GET IT NOW!!!