[Cactus]

Kobashi is the most likeable wrestler on the planet. I don't think I've ever rooted against him. He may not be the greatest wrestler to ever live (but he's pretty damn close) but he certainly is my favorite.

Saying that, I really need to check out his entire GHC reign. I watched his title win against Misawa earlier today and it's still holding up as the GOAT singles match for me. Anyone know where I can download it in it's entirety?

[Bubz]

Kobashi is probably my favourite wrestler of all time. He's an absolute master on almost every level imo.

Cactus I'll PM you a link to it once I find it in a minute.

It's on youtube too but the quality isn't the best though.

[Chismo]

I fucking love Kobashi. This gif (made by me) is maybe my favorite Kobashi moment of all time:

[Bubz]

Originally Posted by JoeRulz

I fucking love Kobashi. This gif (made by me) is maybe my favorite Kobashi moment of all time:

Haha, thats probably my favorite part of that match. Theres a similar bit in the Akiyama 04 match too. Kobashi is such a badass.

[MF83]

Tenryu is the greatest wrestler of all time, far and away in my opinion. Misawa and Kawada are better than Kobashi, Jumbo too probably. But he's definitely top 5. Agreed with most likeable for sure.

Oh, and this is the full list of Kobashi's reign:


Misawa Mitsuharu vs. Kobashi Kenta (1st Mar 2003)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Honda Tamon (13th Apr 2003)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Chono Masahiro (NJPW – 2nd May 2003)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Bison Smith (26th Aug 2003)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Nagata Yuji (12th Sep 2003)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Ogawa Yoshinari (1st Nov 2003)

Kobashi Kenta vs. Sano Takuma (25th Jan 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Rikio Takeshi (6th Mar 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Takayama Yoshihiro (25th Apr 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Akiyama Jun (10th Jul 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Taue Akira (10th Sep 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. Saito Akitoshi (24th Oct 2004)
Kobashi Kenta vs. “The Gladiator” Mike Awesome (4th Dec 2004)

Kobashi Kenta vs. Suzuki Minoru (8th Jan 2005)
Rikio Takeshi vs. Kobashi Kenta (6th Mar 2005)

[Martyn]

Why he didn't defend the GHC title for a two months after that match with Chono at the Dome?

[antoniomare007]

Never been a huge Kobashi fan, love him as an underdog and of course appreciate his greatness but he never "clicked" with me as with others. I agree with MF83 that there are probably 5-6 guys clearly better than him. And I would take Hashimoto over him in a heartbeat, even though Hash doesn't have a "catalog" of matches as impressive as Kobashi.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Martyn

Why he didn't defend the GHC title for a two months after that match with Chono at the Dome?

It was closer to 4 months and it was because between those defenses he and Tamon Honda won the tag titles and had one defense before Kobashi defended the heavyweight title against Bison.

[Yeah1993]

1. Kawada
2. Misawa
3. Fujiwara
4. & 5. Jumbo/Tenryu (undecided)
6. Kobashi
7. & 8. Hashimoto/Tamura (also undecided)
9. Liger
10. Fujinami

that'd be my Japan top 10, I think. Honestly, though, that's a ridiculously changeable list. Give me five new Tamura matches and I'd probably put him top 5. Give me five new Fujinami matches and I'd probably put him at 8 or 9. Give me time to re-watch Liger's 89-94 and I'd probably put him a few spots higher. I'm pretty set that those ten guys are the ten guys I'd use for a while in a Japan top 10, though, no matter the order.

[Bubz]

Kobashi is easily my favorite wrestler ever from Japan, I wouldn't call him the best though. Kawada might be at the top of my 'Best' list. I have to see more Jumbo and Tenryu though in order to from a better opinion on them. I've seen enough Jumbo though to know that he's up there.