ABDULLAH KOBAYASHI VS. SEPTEMBER 19 (SHUJI ISHIKAWA/KANKURO HOSHINO)

 ABDULLAH KOBAYASHI VS 9/19

    In 2010 and 2011, Abdullah Kobayashi had 2 deathmatches on 9/19, one with Shuji Ishikawa in a 261 Lighttubes Deathmatch, and one with Kankuro Hoshino in a 300 Lighttubes Deathmatch. In both of these matches, he almost died of blood loss.

SHUJI ISHIKAWA VS ABDULLAH KOBAYASHI (9/19/2010)

    It's borderline gore, incredibly sloppy, feels like nothing goes to plan, fairly slow, and yet, it's one of the greatest works of art to ever grace the wrestling world. Abdullah Kobayashi vs Shuji Ishikawa is not a match; it is an experience. It is a match you have to watch alone; it is a match you cannot show any new wrestling fan trying to get them into the sport, it is almost like a guilty pleasure. Because yeah, it's disgusting, but it is also the most real and raw wrestling has ever felt to me.

    The amount of blood Abdullah Kobayashi sheds in this match is inhumane, 99% of people would pass out at minute 14 in this match if they were him, but Abby is different, he loves this shit, and he pushes through to give us one of the greatest and most awe-inspiring performances in wrestling history. You truly have to see it to believe it.

    Blood aside, the match itself is actually fantastic, multiple incredibly innovative and cool spots, some disgusting stiff offense (even a nasty head-drop) a great Goliath performance by Shuji, and of course the great selling by Abby (which probably was not selling but nonetheless). Some standout spots include: both of them locked in a figure 4 grab light tubes off the ropes and hit each other with them, the Olympic Slam on the light tube cross, the superplex on the Tokyo Tower that busts Abby WIDE open, the super Kill You powerbomb, and there is plenty more.

    It was a pretty sudden finish, but I don't know if Kobayashi could have kept going after a minute or two more, so fair play, and I did not like when they both ate lighttube pieces, it felt very cooperative and overall was not a good visual, otherwise this is definitely in the running for greatest deathmatch ever. It is so freaking bloody dude. Oh yeah, and they take their pants off and wrestle in sumo attire, hell yes.

My rating: 4.75*

ABDULLAH KOBAYASHI VS KANKURO HOSHINO (9/19/2011)

     What an adrenaline rush man. They set out to break all 300 lighttubes in that ring, and they did it in around 16 minutes.

    My main criticism for the match was the start. The first 6 minutes felt fairly useless. You're seriously telling me ABDULLAH KOBAYASHI is working the arm and doing headlock takeover, like alright bro. And then they weakly brawling outside for a few minutes, and after that hopes were not high. That's what differentiates this match from 9/19/2010 with Shuji Ishikawa, that was great all the way through. Kobayashi, I love you, but Abby was playing a bit too much into trying to be funny, the nose-dives at the start where he missed the tubes, and some of his offense was nonsensical.

    Criticisms are out of the way, so now I can finally say GOOD GOD THEY BLED. They bled, especially Abby (of course), Abby rivaled his match with Shuji where his entire back and shoulders were just red, it was frightening. And Kankuro was no slouch, in fact, he saved this match, he provided a lot of good offense and energy, so good on him, and he bled a gross amount as well. The last few minutes were super entertaining.

    All in all, really great, although not the best Abby match I've seen, these two put together something awesome, and they bled a ton.

My rating: 4*