Tiger Mask vs Invader #3 (08/25) Nice to Misawa have a lucha-type match again. I wish they gave Invader #3 a lil more offense. It's short enough that you probably could call it a squash if it were on WCW Saturday Night. I was entertained and feel like I'm getting a better understanding of AJ '86 than just watching the big matches alone.
Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito vs Animal Hamaguchi & Kuniaki Kobayashi (08/25) Joined in progress so we only get 5-6 minutes. This is another battle in the war between these factions. I'm really digging these guys beating each other up! It's all about aggression, good pacing and timing. You see a match like this an it's so engaging because it feels like a fight.
Stan Hansen & Medico vs Tsuruta & Ishikawa (08/30) - This is a fun match building to Stan vs Jumbo on 09/03 (which I'm going to skip). Medico was fun being an annoyance to Jumbo. He vs Ishikawa was enjoyable too. The big boys have great chemistry so they could sleep walk an exciting 10 minute tag like this.
September
Riki Choshu vs. Genichiro Tenryu (09/03) I watched this a long time ago along with the Hansen match. I read my old review and I think I appreciate it more now. Its a very good to great match. They did a lot of great fighting here. Tenryu switched his offense up using older maneuvers to re-injure Choshu's ribs. Choshu was tough and pulled out a couple moves that were pretty cool. One that I felt was a decade ahead of its time. Personally, Tenryu seemed to have a better performance but Riki interestingly seemed to be doing better character work. That plays into the finish as well.
Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Stan Hansen & Medico (09/06) This is a damn fine TV main event. Riki's ribs are taped up so that's Hansen & Medico's target. By the way, with a name like "Medico" you think he'd tried to help Riki Choshu out. Maybe he was late on his bills? Anyhow, this one is neat because your big star is vulnerable. Yatsu has to come through in a big way and take on the unsinkable battleship and his partner. This was good stuff. Also, I believe Medico is José Estrada Sr. who wrestled as Super Medico (I). Perhaps AJPW left off the "super" to avoid association with Super Strong Machine?
09/20
Masa Fuchi/Tiger Mask vs Hiro Saito/Shunji Takano - Fun stuff! Shunji's German suplex looks a lot like Takayama's because of his height. That was sick! Enjoyed Fuchi punch Saito in the head from the mount position. He look crazed. Tiger Misawa is really in his element here. He definitely seems to gaining confidence as a leader.
Genichiro Tenryu/Jumbo Tsuruta vs Yoshiaki Yatsu/Animal Hamaguchi - Man, these four tear the house down! Damn that's how you do a mid 80's action packed tag match! I never knew what was going to end it and what a clever finish too. Animal might be my pick of top partner to Yatsu. He's got so much energy and has perfect running elbow drops, top rope elbow drops and running neck breakers. Yoshi Yatsu is always jazzed up too. They operate with an urgency that really pushes the pace. This compels Jumbo & Tenryu to do the same. Great match!
Riki Choshu vs Super Strong Machine - Their first lockup looked like two bucks locking antlers. This was a great singles match between the heads of the rival factions. Things really kick off when, after going for a more technical route, Choshu rips Machine's mask. It's on like Donkey Kong now! Strong Machine targets Riki's ribs (which must be on the mend). You know he's got a whopper of a Riki Lariat waiting for him. Excellent main event to this Japan Pro/All Japan show (the last one ever per Cagematch).
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