Pro Wrestling NOAH: 04/15/2001: GHC Title Match (Tournament Finals) Mitsuharu Misawa def. Yoshihiro Takayama in 21:12. Since I’ve been watching some early-2000s stuff with some less-than-inspiring WWE and TNA matches, I figured, why not go with Japan? This was the first-ever GHC title match, a tournament final after Takayama beat Vader and Misawa beat Jun Akiyama in the semifinals. Misawa had been building Takayama as a big monster going back to when he was still booking All Japan, so while the Vader match may have been a mild upset, it wasn’t shocking. Takayama started the match in dominating big man fashion, including a bodyslam on a table and busting Misawa’s chin with a stiff ass front kick. The blood dripped down the shoulders of the former Triple Crown champion. Misawa got in enough hope spots to keep it interesting, but the bloodied vet eventually started making his fiery comeback, including some wicked fucking forearms that were spot on. Takayama hit a surprisingly perfect tiger suplex and bridge, stealing the legend’s move and nearly winning the match. This set Misawa off, and he threw more solid forearms, including getting a nearfall with the roaring elbow that the fans bought. Not long after, Misawa won with the Emerald Flowsion and became the first champion. Although it wasn’t at the level of some of the ’90s All Japan Triple Crown matches, they told a good story, and the fans were into it by the end. RIP to both of these men! ***1/2