WWE Region, Fourth Round, Hell in a Cell: (4) Kurt Angle vs. (8) Mitsuharu Misawa

[Sagg1298]

A really interesting and fantasy match-up. On personal bias, I would want Misawa to win because I'd love to see a big Japanese name in the Final 8 of this tournament (something I believe has not happened so far). But looking at it, it's tough to count out Angle in a match up like this. Angle has been in a Hell in a Cell match, and even won the damn thing against 5 of the topmost names of the Attitude Era (okay 4, excluding Rikishi). He's a legend in the WWE and this match happens in the WWE region, which means its in america against an Olympic gold medalist from ol' Murica, so he should win right?

But this is not a game about just intangibles and external factors. Looking at the match closely, it comes down to who has a better pain threshold in a match like this. I believe Misawa to be of advantage in that regard. He was a tougher and stronger built guy and survived multiple matches against the 'strong style' opponents in Japan. Plus, HIAC match is all about brutality and violence. One devastating manuever on the floor may be game over for Angle.

Vote Misawa.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Kurt Angle has beaten the Rock, Stone Cold, Big Show, Brock Lesnar, Booker T, Sting and Lashley for recognized World Title Belts. He has made the Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, HBK, Austin, Foley, Lesnar, Sting, Cena, Orton, Kane, RVD, Benoit and Lashley tap out - some of who have only taped to him.

Misawa has beaten guys like Stan Hansen, Kenta Kobashi, Vader, Yoshihiro Takayama and Naomichi Marufuji for his World Titles. Here is a list of everyone MM has stepped in the ring with and it just doesn't compare.
http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=541&page=22&type=byOpponent&s=300

Simply put, while Misawa's accomplishments are impressive, they do need context: Angle has faced and beaten the best North America has to offer while Misawa may have beaten but was also losing to past their prime gaijins who never made the upper echelon on American style.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Stan Hansen even in the 90s was a big deal. Vader in Japan is a big deal. Misawa beat the best that Japan had to offer and some of the best North Americans as well. By saying that Beating the best that North America had to offer is implying that the quality in Japan is lower which is inherently based on a false concept of superiority of a company that has a wider audience rather than based on skill.

Also using those statistics that you pointed out puts a flaw in your own argument. According to Cagematch Misawa had 3192 matches and has a Win-Loss-Draw Percentage of 54.6-40.5-4.9.

Whereas Kurt Angle has a Win Loss Draw Percentage of 51.5-45-3.5 after 1490 matches that Cageside have on him. Also against The vast majority of those wrestlers you listed Kurt Angle has a losing record. In fact Kurt Angle has more losing records than winning.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Take time to watch this video it is worth the effort, just to see the things that Misawa pulled off in matches against a wide variety of opponents.


Also Misawa was in an Anime, was Kurt Angle in a cartoon?

 

[Shadowmancer]

This match is considered to be one of the best of all time. Even the commentator at the end, it almost sounds like he says he needs a Cigarette. Its Kings Road at its finest. Its all about tiering of moves lowest to highest as the match crescendos. Its all about how it goes from there. This is why you should vote Misawa over Angle. He is a better Pro Wrestler, this is possibly the Hardest style of Pro Wrestling to pull off and Misawa was one of the 5 best at it.