[9.0] "In Kikuchi's home town. The crowd is electric from the off, and - though this is, in a sense, a very simple match, and played intentionally dumb - this is a very well-executed and satisfying match. Kikuchi and Kobashi do their usual - both are FIPs, Kobashi though switches to being the clearing man, Kikuchi is a bit more high-flying. In this one, Kikuchi is just a tad more aggressive than usual. Kroffat is the smart and technical guy, Furnas is here for strength. Lots of memorable, nice spots and exchanges, decent though not perfect escalation - this match doesn't need the absolute tops, given the crowd. The heels are just a little arrogant, and the faces are more determined than usual. Kroffat manages the ring and crowd well when in, and Furnas does his part - he's probably the weakest link but he does good work nonetheless. The end is fun - a "Butterfly DDT" and then a Moonsault Press from Kobashi on Kroffat for the win. Kikuchi's doggedness keeps the heels from ever fully gaining the numerical advantage, and he seems just a touch emotional with his hometown title win. Very fun. 4.5/5"
[10.0] "Perfect technique through the whole match, full of emotion since the start of it, then the crowd was amazing cheering for Kikuchi the whole thing, the end of it was great, I'll give it [*****]"
[10.0] "(5*) The hometown crowd of Kikuchi was one of if not the best crowds I've ever heard, Kroffat and Furnas was booed the hell out, I love how the crowd also cheered on for Kobashi and it was just a wonderful match, easily one of the best tag team matches of all time and one of the best matches in AJPW history."
[10.0] "From the go, Kikuchi just starts pummeling Kroffat, crowd absolutely loves him. Chops back and forth from Kroffat and Kobashi as they just wreck each other. Double shoulder tackle from Kroffat and Furnas looks surprisingly great. Kikuchi does his spinning heel kick a few times. Another big shoulder tackle by Furnas off the ropes. Kikuchi fights back and the crowd cares so much, but hes just spiked into the Matt by Furnas. Kroffat comes in and hits a thrust kick. Goes for a vertical suplex but its reversed by Kikuchi. Kobashi comes in and overpowers Kroffat with his shoulder, then hits a big leg drop. Spinning heel kick by Kroffat. Big lariat by Kobashi. Furnas comes in and gets leveled by a huge lariat, then Kobashi tags Kikuchi in, double dropkick on Furnas. Some military presses on Kikuchi who is launched over the guardrail and onto a table by Furnas. Kobashi helps Kikuchi back into the ring before the count, Furnas and Kroffat hit their awesome finisher, but Kikuchi kicks out. Kroffat comes back in and locks in a deep and brutal Boston crab. Kikuchi kinda easily climbs to the ropes, but then a big vertical snap suplex, trio of them actually, Kobashi comes in to break up the pin count. Kikuchi gets a nice belly to back to stop Kroffat but Kroffat grabs his hair to pull him back to his corner and tag Furnas in. Tilt-a-whirl powerslam by Furnas, doesnt get the pin, locks in the Boston Crab back on Kikuchi, Kobashi tries to break it up but Furnas just doesnt give a shit and eats two kicks, Kobashi finally ends it with a punch. Kroffat comes in without even tagging and then hits a few rolling slams on Kikuchi and then stretches him out again. Kobashi comes in again to stop Kroffats stretch. Furnas comes in, misses a big right and then Kikuchi hits his sendai kick and tags in Kobashi comes in for a helluva hot tag and both guys double team them but he overcomes it all and powers through them both. Big Belly to back by Kobashi on Furnas, he kicks out of the pin. Lariat into the corner, Kobashi gets up on the turnbuckle and Kroffat comes in and slams him onto the mat, HUGE lariat by Furnas, Kobashi kicks out at two. Kroffat comes back in, Enziguiri by Kobashi, Flying Headbutt by Kikuchi, Kroffat kicks out, bridging suplex pin also kicked out of. Huge superkick to the corner by Kroffat, Kobashi comes in but gets leveled by Kroffat and sent over the top rope. Double hooks the arm, cant get it, Furnas comes in and they hit a sky high lariat on Kikuchi, but Kikuchi somehow kicks out. Half nelson sleeper applied to Kikuchi and Kroffat whip him around like a rag doll. Furnas tries his best to hold back Kobashi but Kobashi breaks it up, then on the outside Kobashi hits him with a DDT He comes back into the ring to stop Kikuchi from getting superplexed, Kikuchi hits a dropkick on Kroffat while hes held up on Kobashis shoulders, Assisted moonsault, but somehow Kroffat kicks out. Kobashi comes in Kroffat gets the upper hand, tijeras off the trip by Furnas, Kroffat kicks out the interfering Kikuchi, Kobashi and Furnas stir in the ring and rise to their feet, Furnas tags in Kroffat, trading kicks by him and Kobashi, running powerslam and pin by Kobashi but its kicked out of. Kobashi body slams him, heads to the top rope, Kikuchi is able to pull Kobashi away, Furnas rolls out of the way only al little bit so Kobashi kinda lands on him, bridging pin by Kroffat kicked out of, some nice counters before a Double undertook DDT by Kobashi that is kicked out of by Kroffat, another body slam, he hits the moonsault and Kobashi pins Kroffat for three. The crowd goes absolutely insane. What a match. That was so impressive and built so well, that was pretty damn incredible. Im not sure what the story was going into this match to be completely honest, but the in ring work was outstanding, and the crowd could not have loved it any more."
[10.0] "King's Road is so magical that "random" matches like this, with three wrestlers that are not top names in the company, are able to rank between the greatest and most iconic matches in history. This got to be one of the hottest crowds of all time, and probably the best crowd ever in a match that is not a dream match, like Joe vs Kobashi or Hogan vs Rock. This is unbelievable, the dynamic is perfect, heroes and villains well defined, not a huge story behind, just a sport achievement, the tag titles. This one being in Kikuchi's hometown helped a lot, they were thirsty to see him winning, and they did. Watching this without nothing who won it (like I did) is a cathartic experience, you just catch yourself rooting and cheering like crazy for Kobashi and Kikuchi. Big props to Furnas and Kroffat too, it's the best match of everyone lives, except Kobashi, he's so unreal that this was just another one for his incredible collection - {*****}"
[10.0] "[4.75*] This is one of the funniest matches of all-time if you think about this. This is a legend before his peak + a hometown jobber against two mid-carders for life: and it is one of the best Tag Team matches of all time. Doing this match on Kikuchis hometown was an incredible idea, this crowd was legitimately Top 5 I have ever seen in my life. They popped for everything, every single punch, elbow, chop it was amazing to see, such an easy-watch. This followed the rules with excellence and was perfectly built, with a lot of insane nearfalls at the ending. I thought the match would end 4 times, so this is clearly something. At the end, the heroes defeated the bad guys in a simple, but very effective and perfectly executed story."
[10.0] "This is my favourite match of all time, even though I wasn't alive when it was happened I managed to watch in unspoiled sometime in the 2010s. Everything about this match had me invested and you have to give credit to everyone in this match they played their roles perfectly, every fibre of my being was routing for Kobashi and Kikuchi to win and they brought the match to its peak at the right spot. Its not the most polished match but it is perfect in my opinion, the action is incredible with a red hot crowd that are living every moment. It made me feel its drew me in, hooked me and I was standing and pacing by the end of the match. Thats what wrestling is thats what it makes you feel through good and bad, like watching your favourite sports team battling it out for the win. This is pro-wrestling and there is nothing that sums up pro-wrestling more to me than this match."
[8.0] "Of course calling it legendary is absolutely justified - crowd was incredibly outstanding and both sides presented solid baby-face vs monster heels in-ring psychology in japanese style. I would recommend other person to watch, because whole feedback and entourage is encouraging for non-wrestling fan to keep an eye on it, but I just don't love it. Maybe I am too invested to other stuff of 4 pillars and I don't want to understimate effort putted here, but still - I don't recognize that as a top-tier classic."
[10.0] "Listen to the crowd, listen to the commentators, unreal. This is, by far, the most intense and loud Japanese crowd I have ever heard. Couple this with a classic Kobashi showing and a great foreign heel team, jesus christ. This match is crazy. (*****)"
"Very strong tag match that had me at the edge of my seat near the end. This was also one of the first AJPW matches that I have watched, and it has left a high standard for other AJPW matches for me to watch. 8.5/10"
[7.0] "Solid match. The crowd is really hot too, you can literally hear the wave of people yelling after each really cool moment. My biggest problems with this match is that the match takes time to really get great although Kobashi and to an extent Kikuchi are really good for the majority of the match. Not the biggest fan of how they end the match as well. Would have been much better to end the match on Kikuchi and Kobashi's flying lariat."
[10.0] "[5*] This match is to prove to everyone that even with only basic moves you can deliver an amazing match, but when you have Kenta Kobashi the match can be elevated to another level, a hell of a match with every move looking stiff like the elbow throws, suplexes and the kicks from Kenta, the crowd was absolutely nuts and for sure that the athmosfere elevated the match even more, made the situation and everyone involved look important"
[9.0] "A beautiful match, that is wrestled simply to help showcase the white hot crowd. Can-Am is fantastic as the heels, working over Kikuchi just to make that hot tag to Kobashi sweeter. I'd argue this is one of the easiest viewing of professional wrestling out there, and despite the innate simplicity the reputation this has is earned. 4.5 Stars."
[9.0] "A superb match. A crowd behind the Faces, even more so during the near falls. Kroffat & Furnas play their role as Heels very well. There was some great wrestling with great reactions and no real downtime. The only fault I can find is that towards the middle of the match Kobashi intervenes for no reason several times to break his opponents' holds. For a Face if there is no reason I don't understand. (4*1/2)"
[10.0] "This match took place in Kikuchi's home town and they were SUPER hot for him, big pops for every little thing his did. After the typical babyface shine where he got to show up the cocky foreign champions, Can-Am took control. Their heat segment was so classic tag team goodness isolating Kikuchi from Kobashi. When Kobashi got the hot tag, his babyface fire match the rabid crowd. Wonderfully structured and worked tag team match that is elevated to all-time great status thanks to a phenomenal crowd. *****"
[10.0] "Tag Team Wrestling at its absolute best, up there with my favorite matches of all time. Strong work in front of an absolute molten hot crowd. In my opinion, the best match to show someone if they're debating if a hot crowd truly elevates a match."
[10.0] "It's funny knowing how everyone's careers turned out that Tsuyoshi Kikuchi is noticeably the most popular and over wrestler for this crowd. His strike attack on Kroffat at the beginning is one of the biggest zero-to-sixty crowd engagement changes I've ever seen that didn't involve a big return, surprise, or high spot."
[10.0] "Have you ever had a day at work that will leave you feeling as good as Kikuchi must have done after this match? No, me neither. A career-best performance for 3 of the people in this match, plus a phenomenal one by Kobashi. The crowd are the all-important fifth man. I love how the Can-Am Express, never exactly known for their charisma, turn up the foreign heel heat to 11 and work a US Southern tag match. Just a touch behind the 6-man three days earlier for me, but still an absolute classic that I understand why people love so much. Can you imagine being such a good company that you put out 2 all-time greatest matches within three days?"
[10.0] "This is one of the greatest matches I have ever watched. Yes, the crowd is definitely the main factor in why it is enthralling to watch, but credit must go to all four competitors for ensuring keeping the crowd red hot throughout the entirety of a twenty minute match. The Can-Am Express are great as heels; their offense looks phenomenal, and they do a great job in drawing heat from the crowd via their occasional use of underhanded tactics such as double teaming and fooling the referee into thinking a tag had been made when it in fact had not been as they worked over Kikuchi. This, of course, aroused the ire of Kobashi, who plays the big brother role perfectly; all of his offense looks great, but of course it does because he is Kenta Kobashi. But, most importantly, he shows great anger and fire as he watches the Can-Am Express dissect Kikuchi, and even begins to break the rules himself to counteract Kroffat and Furnas' dirty tactics. Kikuchi plays the fiery underdog perfectly, and the Sendai crowd is absolutely behind their hometown hero, wanting desperately to see him overcome the odds. I loved how there were multiple instances in the match in which Kikuchi tried to match-up to Furnas and Kroffat but was unable to do so. My only minor complaint is that I wished the Can-Am Express's work on Kikuchi's back factored into the match more, as it was forgotten about despite being excellent, including an all time great Boston crab by Furnas. Other than that, this match is a must-watch for any fan of professional wrestling. ****3/4"
[10.0] "Probably the single best tag team match I've ever had the pleasure of watching and by extension one of the best performances in the history of the medium."
[10.0] "My favourite match ever. The crowd helps to make it what it is, but the work, especially from Kroffat and the shitkicking taken by Kikuchi, is incredible."
[10.0] "I really doubt this match could ever be duplicated, let alone an attempt to replicate it. This was special. The trope of the evil gaijin tag teams is what has made puro so profitable historically. The hometown man, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, in one of his most impressive bouts everywhere. The big man in Kobashi able to clean house. Kroffat and Furnas are always technically great, and this was no exception. Every part of this match worked so well. The heat segments, the babyface fire from Kikuchi, the nearfalls. Everything had the fans on the edge of their seats. Once in a lifetime."
[9.0] "The match started very well with Kikuchi going at Kroffat like a beast and brutally derailing punches, after that for me the match loses a bit of quality, even though Kobashi and Kikuchi are sensational in this match (especially Kikuchi who is who sure steals the spotlight in this match), Can-Am Express plays its role of heels very well, but there is a moment in which Kobashi makes the save with a leg drop and there is simply no sell coming from Kroffat which makes me feel little combat. The strong points are the crowd, Kikuchi and the near falls at the end, good match, but far from my favorites (****1/2)"
[10.0] "Imho, this match made Kenta Kobashi into a wrestling icon. He had his moments & he was over but he would've stayed a midcarder if this didn't happen (even though Kikuchi is the clear star of the match). The story, visuals, wrestling & the freaking crowd here are so perfect that it hurts."
[10.0] "This one as well as Shibata vs. Ishii during the G1 '13 are the two bouts which I made my best friends watch so that they could discover Japanese wrestling. They loved every second of that stellar classic. Kikuchi's all-time babyface performance, Kobashi being the GOAT he was almost already is whereas Furnas and Kroffat were the perfect heels due to the show being held in Kikuchi's hometown. My friends were completely speachless, they bought Kikuchi's underdog persona as well. Kichuchi's selling was something : poor dude got striked hard and tored every way possible, but the fire in him and the support of the loved ones have made him invicible. The bout itself is pretty simple, in my eyes of a student of the game, it was a slap for them. Nevertheless, I was like 'em the first time I watched this gem. Doing simple things, but they turned to be a classic, it's the mark of great wrestlers. Kobashi's approch at this time as being the older brother whereas Cam-Am Express were pretty legit as well, Furnas being a chad at lift and Kroffat being a Hart Dungeon trainee. The better exemple of how a crowd can elevate an already great bout. A fucking definition of what pro-wrestling is."
[10.0] "The best 2v2 tag match in pro wrestlign history, it just is. This is just absolute perfection, sure you can say it was carried a bit by the crowd but who cares, that's what pro wrestling is. A must watch for any fan"
[9.0] "Zugegeben: Das Match ist vielleicht in der Nachbetrachtung für mich nicht so stark wie es das damals war, aber es ist natürlich von der Stiffness, von der Atmosphäre von der Dramaturgie her immer noch ein sehr gutes Match, welches in meinen Augen 9 Punkte verdient."
[10.0] "Fantastic match with tons of excitement, drama, and a molten crowd. Definitely a top 10 tag match I've ever seen. I wish I knew the full context of the showdown because I bet I'd enjoy it even more."
[9.0] "This match is a perfect example of how crowd reactions elevates the match quality . If it would have happened in pandemic era or if the crowd was cold , this match would not have been such high rated . Excellent heel work has done Can-Am express and kikuchi was the MVP here . Also loved that last 3 min sequence."
[10.0] "As close to perfection as it gets. I can count on one hand the amount of times that wrestling has made me feel the way this match did. The most nuclear crowd ever elevate a clinic to a masterpiece. Everyone played their role to perfection. I think Kikuchi was the MVP here though, has there ever been a better FIP than him in this match? I can see the finishing stretch endless times and it will always have my heart in my mouth. Just watch this, and be thankful you got to witness it. (5*)"
[10.0] "One of the absolute greatest tag matches not just thanks to a hot crowd for the hometown hero Tsuyoshi Kikuchi but also thanks to the fiery babyface hot tags of Kenta Kobashi & The expertly done heel work of the Can-Am Express in particular Dan Kroffat. Words cannot do this match justice, experience it for yourself."
[10.0] "This match has the most craziest crowd I have ever seen. Kikuchi and Kobashi being cheered for every single thing they do elevates this match to another level. It is crazy that I was able to feel the energy of the crowd while watching this at home 3 decades later. Kobashi is magnificent. *****"
[10.0] "Can Am played the crowd perfectly. Kobashi was the mega babyface everyone loved. Kikuchi the plucky underdog was cheered for every step he took during this. An essential viewing for all wrestling fans on how good tag team wrestling can be. No crowd to this day has come close to how bought in and loud every person in the building was during this. They lived and died by the things taking place in this match. Quiet and respectful crowds my ass. No western crowd can even dream of this energy and excitement. Insane stuff *****"
[10.0] "truly a stand out in the field of tag team wrestling, real good action and a good story with a crowd that never lets up, go out of your way to watch this one if you haven't. ****3/4"
[10.0] "This match was fantastic. The in-ring work was great, but there was no doubt that the electric crowd made this match amazing. The crowd was so behind Kobashi, and everytime the Can-Am Express shifted the pace in favour on them, everyone was booing but when Kobashi shifted the pace in favour of his team, everyone was cheering. It was clear that Kobashi was the ultimate babyface. This match was just amazing."
[8.0] "If molten heat is the only prerequisite for a five-star match, then a lot of Steve Austin matches should have higher ratings on Cagematch. That said, this match is dope and seeing the way the crowd responds to Kikuchi is wild. But it's a pretty simple match and I'm not seeing the sustained adoration of it 30 years later."
[10.0] "I wouldn't go higher than ****1/4 if it didn't have one of the greatest crowds ever. Like seriously, they were going insane whenever Kikuchi did ANYTHING it was so great to watch. Perfect example of a crowd taking a great match and making it a classic."
[10.0] "Ah. This... This was beautiful. One of the great crowds in professional wrestling history for a match that featured remarkable wrestling and a story that can only be described as captivating. Tyuyoshi Kikuchi wrestled the match of his life as the crowd simply would not relent in its support for him. And Kenta Kobashi was the absolute perfect partner. Across the ring, The Can-Am Express give one of the best heel performances I can recall seeing. It was simple and subtle, but it played the crowd magnificently well and drove an already incredible environment to even greater heights. For as great as everything was in the ring, however, this really goes back to the crowd. They were so invested in every single moment that it became infectious. I felt like a kid again watching this as I was hooked on every single move, transition, and purposeful delay, as well as the overarching story that was told to perfection. This is how wrestling is meant to be enjoyed. My opinion on a five-star match is that the way it makes you feel is what either pushes it into that rare territory or keeps it just outside of it. I will let the rating speak for itself in that regard. 5 stars, 10 out of 10. An all-time great tag team match with a crowd that could make even the most unfamiliar of fans happily invest their time in this classic."
[10.0] "THE greatest tag match of all time. EVER. There is no way it can be beat the absolute magic of the crowd being so rowdy and hot for hometown hero Kikuchi. Truly grand work here by all involved."
[10.0] "This match falls just short of the spectacular Kobashi/Misawa vs Taue/Kawada match from 1995, but it still could be one of the best professional wrestling bouts of all time. The crowd really makes this match, but the quality of wrestling the four men involved is very hard to beat. Furnas and Kroffat are some of the best tag team workers of all time, and Kobashi is very high on that list too. Kikuchi is underrated as a tag worker and puts in an incredible performance here. When I think of tag team wrestling at its best, this is a match that I think about. *****"
"This is one of those infamous and almost mythical matches in wrestling history that people talk about, but no for match quality or the sheer athleticism or anything like that but for the epic and legendary crowd it had for the most part. Objectively as a match, it's a good match, but for the most part, it's a spectacle. (****)"
[10.0] "My god, thats gotta be the best japanese crowd ever, even though the match started kinda slow and repetitive with the moves, but it was evolving to the point that the last 10 minutes are some of the best wrestling i have ever watched. Still, I dont think this is the greatest tag team match of all time, but it is a top contender for that title."
[10.0] "As incredible as advertised, a bonafide 5 star match in my book. The crowd is amazing, loud as hell, Kobashi of course is awesome, Kikuchi has a career performance and Kroffat and Furnas are world class adversaries, just wrecking balls at times and master technicians at others."
[10.0] "This match absolutely fucks. The crowd is legendary, on par with Money in the Bank 2011 as the hottest of all time. Everybody heaps deserved praise on Kobashi's 'older brother' psychology and Kikuchi's home-town fire, but the Can-Am Express deserve lots of credit too. Doug Furnas STILL holds the collegiate world record for squats at a ridiculous 886 pounds, and Dan Kroffat is a Hart Dungeon trainee himself. Both guys play gorgeous dominating heels, with Kroffat in particular getting in some of the most entertaining submission offense I've ever seen, including my favorite Cobra Clutch ever. Furnas hit a freaking Frankensteiner, for Christ's sake! This is one of the early glimpses of Kobashi's future greatness, unleashing a flurry of entertaining offense while protecting and backing up the hometown hero. Kikuchi's offense is a bit weak, but absolutely nobody in the audience cares. They erupt for every single maneuver Kikuchi hits, going so far as to lend that hometown heat towards Kobashi as well. That gorgeous moonsault to end the match sends everybody home happy, and while a Kikuchi pin would have made this match even better, the crowd and pure Southern wrestling psychology makes this an absolute classic. ***** and 1992 Match of the Year."
[9.0] "A four-star match with a five-star crowd. Kikuchi puts in a performance of a lifetime in front of his hometown, but I thought Kroffat and Furnas stole the show as the smug American technicians, They might not be known for their charisma, but they brought it all out here. This is a great match for puro newcomers due its American-style layout and it kills the idea that Japanese crowds are quiet."
[10.0] "This is one of those cases of this being the right match with the right crowd at the right place at the right time. Unlike the 5-star 6-man tag match Kobashi was in just 3 days earlier, this one didn't see the crowd change allegiances depending on who was bending the rules. This crowd was all Kikuchi and Kobashi all the time even if they were bending the rules. And Furnas and Kroffat played the perfect cocky heels to counter how unbelievably over Kikuchi and Kobashi were. In fact this match is in the running for hottest crowd of all time because they went nuts for virtually everything Kobashi and especially Kikuchi did, with this match taking place in Kikuchi's hometown. The match really picks up with a military press to Kikuchi from the ring to the floor and then another on a table. Then each team would have a go at a variant of the Doomsday Device but neither could get the 3-count. Then Kikuchi made a diving save to break up a Frankensteiner into a pin. The only awkward moment of the match came when Kobashi half missed his moonsault but half landed on his opponent leading to a semi-sloppy pinning combination, but Kobashi kicked out. Kobashi hit a brutal double underhook DDT but still couldn't get the 3-count. He followed that up with a slam and now he cleanly hit the moonsault for the 3-count to send the crowd into the stratosphere. The slightly awkward bit shouldn't take away from a match that had this crowd hooked like few other matches have achieved. *****"
[10.0] "in my opinion the greatest tag team match I've ever watched, an absolute classic in all regards, helped by the fact that it is in front of one of the hottest crowds ever that wanted to see nothing more than Kikuchi and Kobashi beating Kroffat and Furnas, this in itself plays a major part of what makes the match so great, the crowd had picked a team they wanted to win and stuck by it, not like most matches now where it's just cheer for whoever you want and just have a great match, they had a great match but having the crowd be so into the babyface team makes it that much more special, if Kikuchi had picked up the win himself the crowd would of gone absolutely mental, they did anyway, but it would of been out of this world, there were a couple of not quite perfectly timed maneuvers such as a face plant which didn't look 100% right and a moonsault that was dodged but still got some contact, this to me doesn't take anything away from the match but adds to the realism, if everything is perfect it doesn't feel real, as long as you're not selling a clearly missed moved like death I'm fine with things not connecting perfectly, this as I mentioned had a couple of those but the rest of the match is just so brilliant from start to finish its easy to ignore them and just enjoy the spectacle and join in with the crowd in cheering on Kikuchi and Kobashi to victory, a perfect tag team match (*****)"
[10.0] "Es ist auch nach fast 30 Jahren immer noch ein tolles Erlebnis dieses Tag Team Match zu schauen. Es sind Matches wie diese, die einfach für die Ewigkeit bleiben. Die Crowd reagiert auf jede Situation, Nearfall, Tag, Double Move usw. perfekt. Fantastisch. Sollte jeder mal gesehen haben."
[10.0] "We will never see a wrestling crowd react this perfectly again, everything else here is great, but the crowd is what elevates it to legendary status"
[10.0] "An amazing tag team match fueled by probably the hottest crowd I have EVER seen. They were screaming for every single move landed by the faces in this match and are largely responsible for making this as impactful as it is. The big tag to Kobashi especially was just pure goosebumps."
[10.0] "This match is amazing not just for the match itself, but one of the best crowds I have ever seen in wrestling. People were leaping out of their seats and jumping up and down in joy during the kickouts. This is the sort of match that reminds you why you are a wrestling fan."
[10.0] "About as close to flawless as a wrestling match can get, and a benchmark for tag matches to be held to. The few complaints or gripes I have are such minor nitpicks that they hardly even bear mentioning. Kikuchi could've been more animated and expressive in his selling and emoting, and I could've done without the diving headbutt. That's really about it. Manages to accomplish in around 20 minutes what some other classic AJPW matches take over twice as long to do, and doesn't last for even a minute too long. Ultimate proof that a match doesn't need to go 60, 45, or even 30 minutes to be an epic, or to become a classic."
[10.0] "Not sure what there is to be said that hasn't been said below already. Simply one of the greatest matches ever, the crowd was on a level rarely reached for any match. The action was stiff with a great technical side. So many amazing near falls as well. (*****)"
[10.0] "Easily one of the greatest matches of all time. Everyone played their parts so excellently. Kikuchi as the hometown babyface in peril, Kobashi with the hot tags, Kroffat using his technical ability and Furnas using his strength to batter Kikuchi. Kroffat and Furnas do an excellent job at getting the crowd to boo them after they respectfully cheered them at the start of the match. Up there with the Chicago crowd for Punk vs Cena as the hottest crowd ever."
[10.0] "This is like the egg/chicken dilemma, as in I don't know if that crowd made the match or the match made the crowd. The combination surely made for an unforgettable match. Both teams played their roles perfectly, creating drama in the slow build up all the way to the nuclear finish. Also this is the start of the Kobashi saga for me. *****"
[10.0] "I've never seen a crowd this hot before. They lost their mind for literally every move Kobashi and Kikuchi did. It's hard to have a bad match under those conditions. The crowd alone adds 1 or 2 points to this great tag match"
[10.0] "Legendary Match. Kikuchi looked like an absolute star here as the crowd went crazy for everything he did even after he just hit a dropkick. Kroffat and Furnas were great as well and they shouldn't be ignored. Their work was so good for the sake of cooling down the hot crowd a bit. The FIP segment from Kikuchi was contributed greatly by these 2 men. And then Kobashi got the hot tag, the crowd went wild again. The near falls were unbelievable as you could see those would end the match at any time. Great babyface work from Kobashi and Kikuchi overall and great old school style tag team work from the foreigners here. An all-time match with an all-time great wrestling crowd."
[10.0] "Legendary crowd. Legendary FIP performance by Kikuchi. Legendary match. A great southern style tag team match with the Can-Am Express double teaming and working over Kicuchi who gives almost as good as he gets whenever he is on offence. And 6he crowd going nuts for Kikuchi from the start, screaming his name from on top of their lungs. It? s so infectious. Kobashi is great in the match, adding tons weight of to the match. Any time him and Kroffat are in the ring is magic. The nearfalls are nail-baiting. The drama is unprecedented. *****"
[10.0] "Definitely one of the hottest crowds I've heard, they were so behind everything the underdog Kikuchi did it was incredible. Kikuchi sold like crazy and every time he got any offence the crowd went crazy. Some great false finishes and the Kobashi coming in to chop every body was terrific, Kroffat and Furnas helped make the crowd go even crazier with their superb heel work. Just perfect wrestling *****"
[10.0] "There's nothing to say about this match, Furnas & Kroffat played the heels that were booed just by the fact that they were breathing, while Kikuchi is the underdog that is in his hometown. But still, this is an amazing match, and of course, my favorite Tag Team Match of all time. *****"
[10.0] "The crowd was *so* behind Kikuchi, I had never seen a crowd screaming when a guy teased a reversal. The story is great, with the underdog withstanding punishment until the hot tag, but then still comes back to break a pin and save Kobashi. The team of gaijins had very good dynamic offense and the match was very exciting the whole way through."
[9.0] "This match had one of the hottest crowds you will ever see, thanks to Kikuchi being the hometown favourite. They were going crazy for the guy, living and dying with everything he did. Had Kikuchi actually scored the pinfall they would have gone insane, and I would have liked to have seen that."
[10.0] "One of the best crowds of all-time - seriously that shot of Kikuchi hitting a couple of leg lariats & the crowd jumping up from their seats is legendary. There isn't much to say about this one that hasn't been said yet, but it's indeed one of those matches where everything just CLICKED w/ Kikuchi's amazing underdog performance, the fans being crazy for him, Kobashi's explosive kick-heavy hot tags & the nasty work on top by The Can-Am's. One of the best crowds of all-time, one of the best matches of all-time. *****"
[9.0] "Incredible match, though still a bit overrated. The Can-Am Express are amazing performers and the perfect heels, often using underhanded tactics to get the upper-hand, acting arrogantly, and eliciting loud roars from the audience when they are being beaten up. They both sell incredibly well and use an interesting range of moves in impressive form. Kobashi and Kikuchi were just as great a tag team as the Can-Am Express. They had a very enjoyable dynamic as they both made efforts to save the other from various submission holds and pin attempts. Kobashi is of course one of the best wrestlers ever, but Kikuchi really impressed me as well, and actually seemed to gain more audience appreciation than Kobashi! He definitely put on an amazing display of being the feisty underdog, and plenty of times his leg lariats evoked large crowd celebrations. The near-falls in this match were very tense, and plenty of times the match looked 100% finished. It's impressive that Can-Am Express was supported by AJPW enough so as to be allowed to kick out of some very impressive moves from Kobashi and Kikuchi. This cemented them as a dangerous and challenging force, and made it much more enjoyable of a payoff when Kobashi finally got the pin. It was also nice for the Can-Am Express to shake hands with Kobashi and Kikuchi and put the belts on them, as then both teams could be rightfully cheered. My one issue with this match was that the crowd really carried it through a lot of moments which were otherwise rather unremarkable. In fact, a lot of this match was just very generic exchanges, just with a ridiculously hyped up crowd to overhype it all. The crowd obviously added a great feeling to the match, but I felt that this match really needed more of its own charm, and shouldn't have relied so much on the hot crowd to carry it to so called 'legendary' heights. Even considering that though, this was still a very tense match with plenty of great moments. ****1/4"
[10.0] "Absolutely crazy match. Kroffat and Furnas work over Kikuchi, who puts in one of the all-time great babyface performances putting his hometown into even more frenzy than they already were. Some absolutely stunning near falls, perfect psychology, and great pace make this an easy recommendation. (*****+)"
[10.0] "There are still many classic All Japan tag matches I need to see, but this was by far the best one yet. The crowd was crazy for the entire match and Kikuchi and Kobashi were as over as any legends you'll see. This match never has a dull point and the heat was off the charts. This should be in everyone's conversation when considering the best tag team matches of all time. My previous favorite tag matches were Jericho/Benoit vs. HHH/Austin and Bucks vs. Golden Lovers, but this match blows those two out of the water. *****"
[10.0] "Bad crowds can kill a match, an alright crowd doesn't do much but a great crowd can be the highlight of the match and this was definitely the case here. From the get go, the crowd were firmly behind Kobashi and Kikuchi, Kikuchi even more so. From what I understand, Kikuchi is a junior here with Kobashi acting as his big brother with the team trying to take down the foreign heels played PERFECTLY by the Can-Am(? ) Express. The crowd were behind every single move, and they never really did anything crazy but what they did, they did well with the cobra clutch and the desperation sell alongside it really sticking out to me. This match also felt oddly legitimate in an old-school sense which I quite enjoy. The struggle to prevent tags, teaming up when they can, breaking up fall attempts when possible. In-ring, this has great psychology with the moves they did which is fairly hard to come by nowadays. I could go on and on and although this may not have the most spectacular moves, this is definitely one of my favourite matches, I'd say Top 10. (*****)"
[10.0] "This match is one of those matches that are mythical to think about. Just putting it plainly you have obvious bad guys, and obvious good guys with a hometown hero as one of the latter; add probably the hottest wrestling crowd you will ever hear in your life, and this was just a mixture for greatness. The action, the atomsphere, the performances, everything was perfect. The epitome of all time great tag team wrestling, *****."
[10.0] "This is one of those matches that like Punk/Cena from 17/07/11 that is elevated by an insane crowd reaction. That is not to say that this match wouldn't be great without it though as this is one of the greatest tag team matches in wrestling history, definitely in my top 10 (maybe even top 5). The Can-Am Express was absolutely brilliant here, as Furnas managed to dump Kikuchi with a press slam and then did it again outside onto a table then both he and Kroffat focused in on Kikuchi's back just as you would expect tag masters like them to do. Kobashi house on fire run after getting the tag was great too. The final few minutes of the match had a number of great nearfalls which wasn't so frequent back then but it never felt like overkill. *****"
[10.0] "Wow! This is about as much fun as you can have watching a wrestling match! All four guys are about as over as you can be. The crowd LOVES Kobashi & Kikuchi and absolutely despises Furnas & Kroffat. The action is top-notch - this match is relatively short so there's not really a lot of rest holds and time killing going on. Some of the spots are slightly messy, but I love the AJPW stuff from the mid-90s - everyone hits so hard, and the Canadians are so big and strong that you really believe they are either going to kill someone with a lariat or snap them in half with a power submission move (sidenote: Kroffat puts on the single best-looking Boston Crab I've ever seen on Kikuchi! ). The ending is spectacular, with lots of near-falls, the crowd about to lose their mind. Possibly the best tag match ever! *****."
[9.0] "Kikushi’s an endearing side figure of AJPW – an irrepressible dog (breed name not recalled) scrapping-it-up w/ larger and more talented showpieces. His right eye perennially half-shut w/ bushy eyebrows and a disproportionately large upper lip, he looks every bit the unlikely championship wrestler. Yet his tights evoke a nationalist empire; one willing to wear those tights and yet be so undersized is guaranteed in the wrestling business to take an ass-whoppin. And he did so nightly, thus getting rewarded by being paired-up w/ AJPW’s golden prince, Kobashi, as he slowly rose up the ranks from young lion to this point. Their opponents in this raucous bout were the formidable famed Canadian duo of Kroffat & Furnas who were as progressive and exciting in their division as The Steiners currently were in theirs. This fast-paced, rocking affair was exciting partially because of the environment: w/in a building w/ a larger ringside area thus multiplying the number of fans we see on-camera aggressively rooting for the challengers. KK was in the-ring, mostly up for the first five. Kikuchi gets a brief moment for shine and then he gets taken to task. Furnas press-slams Kik over the ring-guard, onto and over a table. Kobash brings Kik back-to-the-ring to receive loads of back abuse via slams, suplexes, Boston Crabs, etc from both champs. KK is tagged in at about 12 mins in, and the many, many close near-falls start soon hereafter. Some highlights: A Doomsday Device on Kik from the SE, Kroffat rag-tagging Kik in the Million-Dollar Dream, Kik dropkicking Kro, from off the NE top, who was atop KK’s shoulders, and then getting backflipped by KK onto DK, Kik saving his partner from a rana roll-up jumping off the NW top w/ a headbutt. Near the end KK misses a NW moonsault, but in a lovely sequence, out chain-wrestles DK to hit a ‘Dirty Deeds’ front-arm DDT. A scoop-slam and NE top moonault later and the hot crowd explodes. There’s something very fresh/pure/joyous here. 9. 25"
[10.0] "Just an epic match. The crowd was as wild as you can get and the action was nonstop. Everybody played their roles perfectly. On of the best tags you'll find *****"
[10.0] "Ah, what a perfect match. The hottest crowd I have ever seen in a pro-wrestling match. Never have I heard such a pop for someone ducking a lariat. This one is a joy to watch and will put a smile on your face, guaranteed. *****"
[10.0] "Dies ist ohne jeden zweifel eines der besten Matches aller Zeiten! Es wirkte einfach so Perfekt! Die Crowd ist komplett steil gegangen wie man es so warscheinlich noch nie gesehen hat! Furnas und Kroffat spielen die Heel Rolle einfach exzellent und Kikuchi ist einfach so gut wenn er gerade in der Underdog Rolle ist. Kikuchi wird eigentlich nur verprügelt, lässt aber mit seinen Kickouts und den Hot Tags zu Kobashi die Crowd explodieren! Fantastisches Match. *****"
[10.0] "This ranks right up there as one of the greatest tag matches of all-time and it's so worth checking out as well as all 4 men put on great performances while Kikuchi stood out in front of the hometown crowd who was going absolutely nuts for this one. A good story told and loved the dynamic that was presented here given how rabid the crowd was. (*****)"
[10.0] "So apparently there was a pretty good tag match in Toronto, huh? Yeah, there are still some tag matches that just can't be topped and this is one of them. This was just unbelievable. The atmosphere was just unreal. This was Kikuchi's hometown and the crowd reacted like this their life was being decided in the ring. My God, just watch this. *****."
[10.0] "This is a 10 on the crowd alone. I don't think I've ever seen a crowd as rabid as this, and i doubt i will again. This was a fantastic match which was greatly enhanced by this jubilant crowd. *****"
[10.0] "I gave this match **** 1/2 - **** 3/4. Great 20 minute match that was made better by one of the best crowds in history. Not a 5 star for me as I don't think the in ring action warrants in, but definitely 5 stars for the crowd"
[10.0] "The crowd was tremendous for this one, while the natives and the gaijins out on a match for he ages. This match had everything, nearfalls, hardhitting, spots, mat wrestling. Easily the best tag match of 1992."
[10.0] "A really great match sprint for current and 1992 standards with Kikuchi playing the face in peril, Funas and Kroffat take evrey chance to gain a advantage till the end, and Kobashi as a beast."
[10.0] "Verdientes Match of the Year 1992. Non-stop Action auf hohem Niveau und die vielleicht lauteste Crowd Japans machen dieses Match zu einem der Alltime-Classics. Extrem starke Performances von allen vier Wrestlern. Kikuchi kämpft den Kampf seines Lebens und bekommt dafür die lautesten Chants seiner Karriere. Furnas und Kroffat sind so gut wie nie und liefern meiner Meinung nach die beste Performance ihrer Karriere ab. Sie arbeiten knusprig (wie der Ammi sagen würde "crisp"), gnadenlos und verdammt gut. Besonders der Frankeinsteiner-Spot war genial. Der Pop für Kobashis Moonsault ist jedesmal wieder ohrenbetäubend und AJPW Kommentator Akira Fukuzawa hat einen seiner heftigsten Kommentar-Orgasmen überhaupt und hatte wahrscheinlich nach dem Match keine Stimme mehr. Das Sahnehäubchen kommt dann noch als die Can-Ams den Siegern nach dem Match die Hände schütteln und ihnen die Gürtel umbinden. Kroffat macht Kikuchis Gürtel aber ein bisschen zu weit, sodass dieser ständig rutscht. Armer Kikuchi. Selbst im Augenblick seines größten Triumphs passiert ihm so etwas. *****"
[10.0] "This is some of the best work you'll ever see for the All-Asia tag team titles! Best match of 92. Great high spots, nearfalls and heat. Simply put, greatest natives vs. gaijin match of all time."
[10.0] "Absolut verdientes Match of the Year 1992 und eins der besten Tag Team Matches in der Wrestling Geschichte (*****). Eine unfassbare Stimmung war hier im Miyagi Sports Center zu hören, der Crowd war absolut fantastisch. Nonstop Action mit fantastischer Chemie von beiden Tag Teams. Sehr brutal war der Gorilla Press Slam von Doug Furnas an Tsuyoshi Kikuchi der dann auch noch auf einen Tisch flog. Nach dem Titelgewinn von Kobashi und Kikuchi explodierte das Sports Center und der japanische Kommentartor Akira Fukuzawa war nach dem Match sicher total heiser."
[10.0] "One of the best tag team matches ever and maybe the best crowd ever? Maybe. Tremendous action from the start and a great finish make this a legendary contest. The encounter has certain weak points (Kroffat and Furnas don't have the best facial expressions and their selling is so-so, there are probably too many kickouts), but the crowd makes this easily a 5 star match."
[10.0] "Super schnelles Match mit vielen Tag-Team-Moves und der vielleicht besten Crowd, die ich je bei einem Japan-Match gesehen habe! Der japanische Kommentator kriegt beim Finish fast nen Herzinfarkt! Echt geiles Ding!"
[10.0] "Total irre: Das Publikum geht für japanische Verhältnisse ab wie eine Rakete! Kein Wunder, denn die vier Protagonisten liefern ein Actionfeuerwerk. Furnas und Kroffat zeigten, dass sie zu dieser Zeit das beste Tag-Team waren. Brutal stiff durchgezogene Aktionen, gutes Selling und eine fantastisch Nearfall-Phase. Hut ab!"
[10.0] "Knapp unter 20 Minuten und trotzdem 5* erscheint schmeichelhaft, aber sehr viel besser gehts in der Zeit einfach nicht. Nonstop Action vor einem grandiosen Publikum. Grandios auch Kikuchi, der völlig verprügelt wird und einfach nur mitleiderregend aussieht. Must See!"
