Kenta Kobashi

He started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1988, before taking part in a mass exodus led by Mitsuharu Misawa, which led to the formation of Pro Wrestling Noah. Kobashi worked for Noah for thirteen years, though spent years sidelined due to various injuries, before retiring from in-ring action in May 2013. He is also a former practiced rugby player, judoka, and bodybuilder.

With his former tag team partners, and rivals such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kobashi is known for working the most 5-star matches than any other wrestler in the history of the business.

Tokyo Sports Awards

Comeback Award (2007)

Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)

Match of the Year (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on June 9, 1995

Match of the Year (1997) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 21, 1997

Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31, 1998

Match of the Year (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1, 2003

Match of the Year (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10, 2004

Match of the Year (2005) vs. Kensuke Sasaki on July 18, 2005

Match of the Year (2007) with Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama on December 2, 2007

Match of the Year (2011) with Keiji Mutoh vs. Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano, All Together, August 27

Rookie of the Year (1989)

Tag Team of the Year (1993, 1994) with Mitsuharu Misawa

Tag Team of the Year (1999) with Jun Akiyama

Wrestler of the Year (1996, 1998)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards

5 Star Match (1990) with Toshiaki Kawada and Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue, and Masanobu Fuchi on October 19

5 Star Match (1991) with Toshiaki Kawada and Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue, and Masanobu Fuchi on April 20

5 Star Match (1992) with Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue, and Masanobu Fuchi on May 22

5 Star Match (1992) with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon on May 25

5 Star Match (1992) with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Masanobu Fuchi and Yoshinari Ogawa on July 5

5 Star Match (1993) vs. Toshiaki Kawada on April 14

5 Star Match (1993) with Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, and Yoshinari Ogawa on July 2

5 Star Match (1993) vs. Stan Hansen on July 29

5 Star Match (1993) vs. Steve Williams on August 31

5 Star Match (1993) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on December 3

5 Star Match (1994) with Mitsuharu Misawa and Giant Baba vs. Masanobu Fuchi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue on February 13

5 Star Match (1994) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on May 21

5 Star Match (1995) vs. Toshiaki Kawada on January 19

5 Star Match (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on January 24

5 Star Match (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Steve Williams and Johnny Ace on March 4

5 Star Match (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on June 9

5 Star Match (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa and Satoru Asako vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Tamon Honda, and Akira Taue on June 30

5 Star Match (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31

5 Star Match (1999) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on June 11

5 Star Match (1999) with Jun Akiyama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa on October 23

5 Star Match (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1

5 Star Match (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10

5 Star Match (2005) vs. Samoa Joe on October 1 at Joe vs. Kobashi

Best Box Office Draw (2004, 2005)

Best Wrestling Maneuver (1998) Burning Hammer

Match of the Year (1992) with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon on May 25

Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31

Match of the Year (1999) vs Mitsuharu Misawa on June 11

Match of the Year (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1

Match of the Year (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10

Match of the Year (2005) vs. Samoa Joe on October 1 at Joe vs. Kobashi

Most Improved Wrestler (1990)

Most Outstanding Wrestler (1993, 1994)

Tag Team of the Year (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa

Tag Team of the Year (1999) with Jun Akiyama

Wrestler of the Year (1996, 2003–2005)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2002)

Other Notable Achievements

AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Tiger Mask II/Mitsuharu Misawa (1), Johnny Ace (2), and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (1)

AJPW World Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Mitsuharu Misawa (2), Johnny Ace (2), and Jun Akiyama (2)

AJPW Champion Carnival (2000)

January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1993)

One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament (1999) – with Jun Akiyama and Kentaro Shiga

World’s Strongest Tag Determination League (1993–1995) – with Mitsuharu Misawa

World’s Strongest Tag Determination League (1998, 1999) – with Jun Akiyama

GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship

GHC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Tamon Honda

One Day Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2002) – with Kenta and Kentaro Shiga