Back around 1996, I decided that I had read enough about how great Japanese wrestling was and wanted to see a few matches for myself. Being a longtime reader of the Death Valley Driver Video Review, it didn't take long to make a list of what everyone considered to be top shelf stuff.

Now, if you want to watch something, all it takes is a couple of seconds searching and chances are you can watch it for free. Back then, you had to either trade for a tape, or buy it outright from a trader. The going rate on a poorly produced, 5th generation copy of All Japan Pro Wrestling then was about $20 per VHS. I was lucky enough to find a guy that would make a mixtape of matches that I had selected, enough to fill an 8 hour tape, for $30. The first match on that tape was this match. It features Kenta Kobashi taking on Steve "Dr. Death" Williams in an AJPW ring in front of a rabid crowd. Watch this: