Superstar Sleeze

Akira Maeda & Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Osamu Kido & Kazuo Yamazaki & Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsumi Fujinami & Seiji Sakaguchi & Keiichi Yamada & Kengo Kimura & Shiro Koshinaka - NJPW 5/1/86 Gauntlet Match Wait! Inoki is not in this match! Part of me is disappointed because he brings so much star power. Inoki vs Maeda~! Inoki vs Fujiwara~! always feels huge! Part of me is also happy because it would be a foregone conclusion that Inoki would be standing tall at the end. Now I am not so sure. This is a Team Gauntlet Match. To my knowledge the only of its kind. One member of each team starts out, whoever wins the singles match stays in the ring, the loser exits and another member from the losing team enters. The match continues all members of one team are eliminated. It is conceivable that one wrestler could sweep and thus the other four member from his team do not get to wrestle, but this being pro wrestling, I am sure we will get full monty and it will come down to the fifth wrestler from each team. Lets check this out. Round #1: We are starting with Takada vs Yamada and the size difference is stark. It is amazing Takada was considered a Junior in the 80s. He is massive compared to Yamada. He nearly takes Yamada's head off with a kick but it more of a glancing blow. I think this is only the second or third match I have seen pre-Liger. Takada is schooling him on the mat. It looks like he is wrestling a gnat. Yamada gets a pretty deep toehold but Takada does not seem worried. Takada's leg is bigger than Yamada's body. This is crazy. Did the Liger bodysuit just make Yamada look bigger or did he stop wrestling large dudes. Very nice double leg takedown from Takada. After watching suplex-heavy, highpot-oriented All Japan, nice to get back to some grappling. Takada applies a deep double wristlock on Yamada. Crowd is reacting. Could it be over early. Yamada makes it to the ropes. Interesting strategy New Japan basically starting with their weakest competitor. Nice Fireman Carry throw but loses control of the takedown and Takada back to the cross armbreaker. Yamada rakes eyes with boots. Great waistlock takedown by Takada controls into a side mount. Takada into a toehold loses control. Takada chinlock. Yamada nice drop toehold out. Ref was right with them ready to count when anyone's shoulder were down. Yamada tries to get a Leg Crab on Takada but his leg is too big. Takada regains side control and back into a deep double wristlock. Doesnt look good for little Yamada. Yamada scoots to the ropes. Wow. I thought that was it. Yamada goes for a bunch of kneelifts and throws Takada with a gutwrench suplex and figure-4s the head. This is Takada's fall to lose. He is letting it slip away. Takada popped out and wicked wicked kick. Here we go! Yamada catches back heel trip into the toehold. I am really enjoying all this grappling. It was so nice when different promotions actually had different styles instead of being homogenized. Yamada inverted Indian Deathlock which was a Staple as Liger. Rude Awakening by Liger. Yamada does for the powerbomb that was silly. Back drop. Takada LIGHTS him the fuck up with kicks. The ref pulls him off to count. Yamada gets up and Takada rifles him again and then another series with the spinkick to the face. Yamada catches the fourth set and Figure-4! Takada actually broke the hold. I think the only time I have seen that. Yamada Saito Suplex! Yamada Lariat wrestling like his a mini-Choshu! Can the kid pull it off! Backslide for two! This match rules. Takada body shot. Takada steals one from Fujiwara the armbar out of a German Suplex attempt. Takada has it cinched in but again Takada lets him to get to the ropes. Where is the killer instinct? Amazing kick combination from Takada. Saito Suplex and only gets two. Takada applies his leg lace which I hate but Yamada uses free leg to heel kick him. Yamada makes ropes again. Wow. Takada suplex and Leg Lace again and he finally wins. That match alone was awesome nevermind there would be 8 more. I have no idea how I am going to rate this. This was an excellent David vs Goliath shoot style match. Really dug the vibe. Round #2: Takada goes up against old man Sakaguchi who is out for blood early. Takada finally has to pick on someone his own size. Sakaguchi is probably the biggest man in this match. Maybe Maeda. Sakaguchi knows Takada has been in a war and needs to out him early. Takada weathers the early onslaught and is trying to keep Sakaguchi at bay with kicks. Sakaguchi back on mat with a fierce chinlock. Back to the ropes for Takada. Rifle kick by Takada. Sakaguchi throws him down out of the corner. Old Man Sakaguchi's brute strength versus Takada's technique is great. Takada back to cross-armbreaker. Takada shoves Sakaguchi. There needs to be more shoving in pro wrestling. Sakaguchi gets in and takes Takada's back! Rear Naked choke! Middle of the ring! Sakaguchi lost it and Takada's long legs meet the ropes. Takada rifle kicks thinks he as a missile dropkick set up but Sakaguchi evades. Takada crashes and burns. Skaguchi nearly loses him on an Argentine Backbreaker but recovers and forces the submission. Another excellent contest! Round #3: Sakaguchi vs Yamazaki! I could see this one going either way. Sakaguchi again looking to use strength to pick up a quick one. Yamazaki is a smaller version from Takada, look for lightning kicks. I dont think he will be as suited to contend with Sakaguchi's strength. Lets see what happens. Yamazaki check kicks early. Sakaguchi headlock but Yamazaki wriggles free. Sakaguchi weathers some more check kicks and takes Yamazaki down. Yamazaki needs to put some zip on those kicks or this will be a short night. Yamazaki avoids a crucifix. Sakaguchi gets a deep roll up. Sakaguchi lets Yamazaki up. Yamazaki tries single leg pick up well that was something different. Yamazaki loses control of the takedown but gets the toehold, Sakaguchi pries him off and Yamazaki goes for the Takada leglace. Sakaguchi isnt selling shit. Yamazaki looks so young. Yamazaki slaps the shit out of Sakaguchi in he hold. Good for him. Yamazkai repositons in the center. Sakaguchi stands up and repositions into his own like a BOSS! That was the most Alpha move I have seen in forever! That was sick! Yamazaki Saito suplex into a cross-armbreaker fully on, but Sakaguchi forces a pinfall break. Sakaguchi grabs the kicks and a deep single leg crab, tap this chump out! Lets Go Sakaguchi! I am the biggest Sakaguchi fan ever now! Sakaguchi Alpha Boss 4 Life! Oh cmon! Rope break. Sakaguchi throws Yamazaki down. Deep Boston Crab! Yamazaki taps out. Sakaguchi Alpha Boss is going to run the table! Round #4: Sakaguchi vs Kido. Kido is like the older version of Takada. If I recall correctly, Kido love his punt kicks. I dont really know what to expect. My heart wants Sakaguchi to run the gauntlet, I think he has a good chance against Kido but I could see him taking the L here too to freshen things up. Kido's first move is a toe kick so I was not far off. Kido gets a crossface. Kido is grittier than Takada and Yaamzaki that will work in his favor against the larger Sakaguchi. That and Sakaguchi had already had two opponents. Some nice grappling exchanges between these two. Kido punt kicks on the Greco-Roman knucklelock as Kido is true to form. Sakaguchi slaps Kido around. Sakaguchi SMOKES Kido with a wicked high knee. Looks like he got him right under the chin. Sakaguchi Alpha Boss 4 Life! Kido recovers and is looking for a single leg crab on the tree trunk that Sakaguchi calls a leg he steeles for a leg lace and Sakaguchi makes the ropes. Sakaguchi says fuck this, Atomic Drop! Kido small package, Count to Three! BOOOOOOOOOO! Round #5: Koshinaka vs Kido. Koshinaka spices thigs up before I can preview this matchup by hurling Kido to the outside and piledriving him on the floor! That was sick! Team New Japan is doing Alpha Boss shit. Koshinaka showed me a lot in the Takada series so I am excited for him here. Lets see how long before he slams his ass into Kido's face. Koshinaka chinlock loses control into a Kido chinlock. I think Koshinaka takes this one so that Maeda or Fujiwara can go on a little run. Kido gets a deep double wristlock but Koshinaka breaks the plane of the ropes. Koshinaka figure-4s the head. So much for that red hot start. So far the most boring rounds have been with Kido, but they are still good just not as good as the first three. Yamada is definitely my favorite so far. Kido takes his back and gets his hooks in. They're in the ropes. Koshinaka uses his ass to to crash down on the knee of Kido which is different for him. I am still waiting for Koshinaka/Dustin/Naomi as the ultimate WAR trio with Michael Cole on commentary to shout "THEY CALL THAT THE REAR VIEW" during the simultaneous Ass Attack spot. Koshinaka is working the knee which is a good hook. Boston Crab! Kido powers out and gets two. Koshinaka bodyslam and gets two. Koshinaka maintains a side mount and double wristlock. We Want Fujiwara! We Want Fujiwara! The crowd is not chanting it but I am from my couch. Koshinaka shoves his ass in Kido face so Kido sledges him. That was an appropriate response. HE CALLS THAT REAR VIEW! YES! 1-2-NO! BOOOOOO! RESPECT THE ASS! Kido evades the flying splash! Kido nails a beautiful dropkick and Koshinaka powders. Koshinaka yanks Kido to the outside. Koshinaka throws Kido over the railing. The bell rang; they might have both been counted out. Interesting. They essentially reset the match to be Maeda & Fujiwara vs Fujinami & Kimura, which would be a sick tag match on its own. Kinda surprised since Sakaguchi got two wins I figured either Meada or Fujiwara would get two. Round #6: Fujiwara vs Kimura! The second bananas! So this is definitely coming down to Fujinami vs Maeda! Fujiwara is one of those dudes that because of his DVDVR love you think he is a bigger star than he might have been. I feel like he takes this so Fujinami can at least get one fall if he does job to Maeda. But I dont know how much of that is DVDVR hype making me believe Fujiwara is a big deal. I have seen plenty of Kimura matches he is fine. He will do his Running Leg Lariat thing and probably a piledriver. It is Fujiwara he could have a great match with a potted plant. Lets do this! Wait Im wrong! Kido is in the ring! Only Koshinaka got eliminated since he was on the floor first! Fucking Kido got to eliminate two people. Are you shitting me? Fuck this dude Kimura! They struggle over a Kido takedown attempt. Kimura stomps him in the ropes and Kido powders. He needs to worry this ref doesnt fuck around with his count. Kido nice drop toehold he is trying to get in my good graces but I want Fujiwara! Kimura armdrag. Kimura whiffs on the school boy I have never seen that before. Another armdrag by Kimura. Kido applies an armbar on Kimura. Kimura rocks Kido with some European Uppercuts and then backbreaker. Nice knee to break free of cover. Kimura chinlock on Kido. We want Fujiwara! We want Fujiwara! Kido Saito Suplex. Kimura kicks out at 1. Kimura running Leg Lariat on the Criss Cross! Single Leg Crab! Kimura wins! Yes bring on Fujiwara! Round #7: Read what I wrote for Round #6 originally. Fujiwara has this one in the bag in my opinion. Kimura throws Fujiwara into the railing and post. That was sick! Kimura plays to crowd. That was Kimura's best chance head Fujiara off at the pass while he was making his entrance. Kimura is all revved. THAT IS BLOOD! Kimura piledrives Kimura! He spiked his ass! Kimura is clawing at the cut! Great facial expression from Fujiwara there. Fujiwara Headbutt! Crowd has come alive! Fujiwara HEABUTTS! FUJIWARA CHOKING THE LIFE out of Kimura ! Fujiwara inverted Triangle as Kimura makes the ropes. Fujiwara looks like a killer right now. Kimura looks fucked. Kimura gets a chickenwing out of a headlock into a Fujiwara armbar on Fujiwara, but Fujiwara break free into a great transition to a Butterfly lock into the Fujiwara armbar, Kimura wriggles free and powders. Kimura gets a chinlock and then figure-4s the head. Fujiwara reaches up and Fujiwara headbutt! Kimura comes up with a sick, tight headscissors! Fujiwara potatoes Kimura in the ropes. Kimura unleashes hell on the ropes but FUJIWARA GRABS THE ANKLES BOY YOU FUCKED! Fujiwara kneebar and and Kimura gets to his stomach and the ropes. His eyes say it all. Kimura knows he escaped death. Fujiwara almost completes the armbar takedown and Kimura waistlock takedown. Kimura Scorpion Deathlock on Fujiwara surprisingly very few attempts at his popular move. This has been really good. Fujiwara stands on his head and back to leglace but Kimura uses the momentum to make the ropes. Fujiwara grabs the arm and but Kimura makes the ropes. Fujiwara gets it in deep This time it is over. Watch Fujiwara's face on that one! He looks so determine to submit his ass. Round #8: Fujiwara vs Fujinami! Fuck yes! Fujiwara has no prayer but this is going to be sick. Fujinami looks stacked! Fujinami headbutt and Fujiwara isnt selling shit. Fujinami into a tight chinlock great Fujiwara facial expressions. Fujinami and Fujiwara are not easy names to keep straight while typing and watching at the same time. Wish me luck. Fujiwara bucks Fujinami off. Fujinami back to headlock but Saito Suplex by Fujiwara. Love the struggle here. So much intensity. Fujinami back to the chinlock. Both men wants this so bad. Fujinami kick to Fujiwara on the mat. Fujiwara uses the hair and Fujinami maintains the chinlock. This may be the best chinlock sequences I have ever seen. Fujiwara back to the hair but Fujinami wont let go. Fujiwara is so close to the ropes, Fujinami uses his leg to keep Fujiwara from making the ropes. Fujiwara looks like his about to fade. He is so close! Come on. Fujinmai resets and Fujiwara makes the ropes! That was dramatic! I bought into it. Fujiwara powders. Fujiwara is a master of drama. Fujiwara like a wild animal yanks Fujinami to the outside. He starts throws vicious headbutts. Fujiwara hold Fujinami from getting into and applies a choke in the ring. That was wise for but Fujinami switches back to his own choke. Watch a great expression from Fujiwara. Nobody sells the sleeper/chinlock better. Fujiwara makes it to his feet and buckles. Fujinami sunset flip gets two. Fujiwara Single Leg, Back Heel Trip, Leglace. This how we won the last match. Fujinami gets to his belly. Fujinami is tenaciously staying on the choke. He is sticking to his strategy. Fujiwara selling is otherworldly. Fujiwara fades into the ropes. Fujiwara busts out his tricked Boston Crab escape on instinct. Fujinami dropkick back to the choke. It doesnt look good for our hero he collapses into the ropes and powders to the floor still in the hold. Fujiwara rams Fujinami's head into the post! There is light! Vicious headbutt barrage! Fujinami into the railing back to the headbutts! Go Fujiwara Go! Koshinaka should be pissed. They have spent an eternity on the floor. Fujiwara piledriver on a bloody Fujinami. Fujiwara choking Fujinami. We are getting on our money's wort Fujiwara blocks Fujinami's re-entry. Big fight to get back in the ring. Fujiwara has a choke and they return to the ring. Fujinami suplexes out. Fujinami's is wearing the Crimson mask. Fujiwara headbutt! This rules! Fujiwara Headbutts! European Uppercuts! Fujinami backslide! Count to three! Fujiwara throws a couple more headbutts for good measure to soften up Fujinami for Maeda! Here we go! Round #9: Damn! This could go either way! If Maeda wins, Fujinami is protected because he had a hellacious bout with Fujiwara. Fujinami wins, it is an insane overcoming the odds story! Lets go! Fujinami looks like he just went through a Slasher Flick. Maeda is a big boy. Maeda goes for the big Kick right to the mush. He wastes no time. Single catch back heel trip, Fujinami loses control of the takedown and Maeda gets the cross-armbreaker. Fujinami rolls onto his knees, smart, but Maeda rolls into a new position of strength. Great grappling. Maeda maintains pressure on the arm. Fujinami escapes into a Scorpion Deathlock which applies on the large legs of Maeda. Maeda makes the ropes. Maeda rifles him with big kicks as Fujinami falls backwards. Snap suplex back into the crossarmbreaker. MAEDA WICKED KICK TO HEAD. AGAIN AND AGAIN! THIS BRUTAL! Headbutt to wound. Tons of kicks to the head. Fujinami shouldertackle, Massive kick to head on a charging Fujinami! Maeda stole the Dragon Suplex! 1-2-NO! Crazy! back to cross-armbreaker. I thought it was over for Fujinami. This feels like a reset. Fujinami makes the ropes. Maeda soccer kicks Fujinami's head which fires Fujinami the fuck up! Fujiwara armbar out of the German suplex, textbook by Maeda. Fujinami does it back to him. Cant believe Maeda just made that mistake. Fujinami into a hammerlock. Maeda's long legs make the ropes. Fujinami catch kick and into the German Suplex for two. RAINBOW SPINING HEEL KICK! Maeda hurled his body at Fujinami! Fujinami makes it back up. Maeda wipes him out with another! The ref calls it for blood or beeing out on his feet. The TKO is a good face saving finish for Fujnami. The beginning ruled and the ending ruled. The Kido stuff dragged. Trying to rate this is like trying to rat a Royal Ruble. I will say ****3/4 but everyone shoulw atch this. Takada vs Yamada was my favorite until Fujinami vs Fujiwara. Those last two falls were ***** dramatic wrestling! Peak shit! s

I cant believe it has been over a year, but Pro Wrestling Love in written form is back BABY! The audio version of Pro Wrestling Love took up a lot of free time, but I have been binging a lot of Puroresu from the late 80s and here are the fruits of my labor. The first part of my top 12 of Best All Japan Pro Wrestling Matches to take place between 1985-April 1990 (Tenryu's departure). Just in time for the Greatest Match Ever Voting on gweproject.freefourms.net the deadline is Sunday November 21st. 1989 All Japan was fucking loaded! Let me know what you think. https://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2021/11/pro-wrestling-love-vol-67-best-of-all.html

Oh! I saw Eric posted on Twitter that this is the new 2021 Segunda Caida Match of the Year but didnt click the link. I should have and would have seen your thoughts. It felt more like 1993 All Japan than 1998 All Japan or 2000s NOAH for instance. It was definitely not overwrought. It just had all the things that made King's Road style really good without the need to really feel like they need to top themselves over and over again. Glad you liked it!

Matt when you asked how the match was live before The rest of the world got to see it, I told you it was Top 5 Best Live Match for me which was true. In the back of my mind, I knew it was a 90s All Japan match which I know is not your favorite style, but I didn’t want to tell you. I forgot to follow up so What did you think of the match? Personally I have preferred Punk’s run over Danielson’s. Punk is having excellent Pro Wrestling matches that crescendo to satisfying climaxes. Danielson is doing his workrate thing which is fine sometimes it clicks for me, sometimes it doesn’t. Danielson vs Kingston was way better than anything I’ve seen from Punk. But I’ve enjoyed Punk as a whole more.

NWA International Tag Team Champions Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu - AJPW 2/5/87 Only 11 days after their last match, they are back at it. I smell a title change as Choshu is New Japan-bound. This is the last MAJOR 80s All Japan match left for me to watch. There are still plenty of interesting matchups for me to check out but this is the last big one. We ready for a blog soon. Stream of consciousness follows: Will Jumbo redeem himself for his gaffe last match? Choshu is pretty damn over during the introduction. Yatsu charges and kneelifts the shit out of Tenryu and throws him out like yesterday's garbage. He slaps Tenryu. I guess their strategy it to piss off the other team. Tenryu works a headlock early. Tenryu shoulderblock. I am diigging this start. Jumbo tags in and it is a kneelift by him. I like how Yatsu whole body was wrapped around his knee. Abdominal stretch into a Banana Split Cradle, they work in & out. Yatsu rolls Jumbo into Choshu and tags out. Lock up. Jumbo wrist control and chops Choshu. Choshu slaps back and bashes Jumbo into the turnbuckles. Choshu singe leg/back heel trip. Jumbo standing headlock and tags in Tenryu. Choshu blocks the Enziguiri and then applies a Scoprion Deathlock. Nice sequence. Loved the struggle to turn him over. Jumbo breaks it up. Yatsu comes in. Yatsu bars the arm and tries to take him down, but Tenryu resists so Yatsu goes the other way with a Russian Legsweep. Back drop by Yatsu. Again nice struggle on trying to turn him in the Texas Cloverleaf but Tenryu makes the ropes. Tenryu tags out to Jumbo. Jumbo sets too early. Jumbo back elbows out of the German. Classic Jumbo Bodyslam and then hits a Jumping High Knee from Top Rope which we have not seen in this series. Jumbo is chopping Yatsu and tags in Tenryu Double sledge on Yatsu and Tenryu wipes him out with the Enziguiri. Suplex struggle. Tenryu gets the vertical suplex. Tenryu figure-4s the head. Choshu tags in. Choshu back ebow on Tenryu. Bodyslam. Choshu figure-4s the head. They have definitely dropped the energy level here. Tenryu pops out and gets the Bow & Arrow, a classic sequence. Tenryu chop/Enziguiri combo. Choshu kicks out. Choshu Saito Suplex feels like the first big bomb of the match. Yatsu stomps away at Tenryu. Tenryu bullies Yatsu into his corner and Jumbo tags in. Jumbo chops and back elbows Yatsu. Jumbo seems to have the highest intensity level. He slaps on a tight chinlock on Yatsu. Yastu gets his dropkick but weirdly not on a tag in. Yatsu/Choshu Double Dropkick! Ricky & Robert watch out for Riki & Yoshiaki! Choshu works hard on the Scorpion Deathlock and Yatsu elbow drops Jumbo in the hold. Yatsu powerslam on Jumbo. Yatsu abdominal stretch on Jumbo. Jumbo walks to the ropes and hiptosses Yatsu over the top. Tenryu whips him into railing and rolls him back in. Jumbo works a stepover toehold on Yatsu. Match has been solid but nothing too special. Jumbo counters into the Inverted Indian Deathlock. Similar to the last match just a lot of solid work no real hook. Jumbo stomps Yatsu. and tags in Tenryu. Tenyu big, meaty chops to Yatsu and gets two. Yatsu comes back with an Enziguiri and tags in Choshu. Tenryu tries for Saito Suplex but loses control of Choshu on the way up but ends up applying a Full Nelson that was cool. Jumbo and Choshu work a cool criss cross sequence that ends with Jumbo scoring not one but two High Knees and heres a third! Chosh is too close to the ropes. Choshu Saito Suplex and tags out to Yatsu. Theres the Yastu dropkick on a tag in. Classic Yatsu. Yatsu Saito Suplex and tags out to Choshu. CHOSHU MACK TRUCK LARIAT ON JUMBO! Tenryu saves! That was sick! Choshu tags out. Yatsu Bulldog! Yatsu German Suplex for two. Spike Pieldriver on Jumbo! I like that way more as a late match move! So much better placement there. Yatsu Belly to Belly Suplex. Yatsu blocks the Jumbo Death Lariat. Jumbo Saito Suplex out of the Yatsu Bulldog. Tenryu tags in. Good transition. Tenryu Mack Truck Lariat. He clobbers Yatsu with a Lariat and then an Enziguiri. Yatsu powerslam o the charging Tenryu. Tenryu backpedals Yatsu into the buckles and winds up and hits an Enziguriri->Tenryu Powerbomb, Choshu races across with a Lariat to save the match bulldoze Tenryu. Jumbo tackles Choshu. Tenryu German Suplex for the win! Count to Three! New International Tag Team Champions! Very similar to the January '87 match. I liked the finish of the January match a little more but this had the feel good win. Just another strong All Japan tag style match to end this era for me. ****

NWA International Tag Team Champions Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu - AJPW 1/24/87 We skip forward a year to see these two teams together again. I dont want to check the International Tag Team Titles History to see if Choshu & Yatsu have been champs since February 1986 but here they are as the Champs going into this a year later. I also dont recall who won the 1986 Real World Tag League, ok let me check that. It was Jumbo & Tenryu beating Hansen & DiBiase must have been one of those Leagues that was not for the Tag Titles (which makes sense as there were two sets of titles at that point both the PWF & International Tag Team Belts). Gordy & Khan was a tag team! After their hellacious World Class match, thats pretty cool. Did any of that make tape? Look like their match against Jumbo & Tenryu did, I should check that out. Stream of consciousness to save some time: Jumbo & Choshu to start! Jumbo wins a shouldertackle and snapmare they are tussling to start. Choshu rebounds with a shouldertackle of his own, snapmare into a Scopron Deathlock but Jumbo slaps out. Nice symmetry. Jumbo is red hot. Choshu gets a singles leg pick up and tags in Yatsu who elbow the knee and then right into the Spinning Toehold. Jumbo bullies him into the ropes and then slaps the taste out of Yatsu's moth. Yatsu single back heel trip into Spinning Toehold and starts paintbrushing Jumbo on the ground. Jumbo headlock takeover. Jumbo wrenches the headlock on Yastu. He tags in Tenryu and this is more a conventional start to their tag match. Yatsu scores early with a kneelft an some overhand chops but Tenryu goes to Jumbos strategy and works the side headlock. Yatsu tags out. Tenryu scores a kneelift and chops and Enziguiri for two. Swinging neckbreaker. It is a full court press from Tenryu who figure-4s the head. Choshu pops free and they tussle on the mat. Tenryu tags out. Choshu breaks free and is apprehensive watcing Jumbo. Jumbo grabs wrist control. Choshu goes for a bodyslam but Jumbo deadweights him. Great stuff there. Jumbo back to wrist control to set up chops, Choshu absorbs and fires back and he forces Jumbo into his corner. Yatsu dropkick which is a Yastu staple when he enters a match. He slaps Jumbo which seems like a bad idea. JUMBO HIGH KNEE! Jumbo chinlock. Told you it was a bad idea. Jumbo/Tenryu Double Sledge on Yastu. Tenryu lariat and smashes Choshu on the apron for good measure but Choshu doesnt sell shit. Yatsu tags out. Tenryu attacks at pass. Tenryu misses, Choshu misses. Tenryu Russian Legsweep into a cross armbreaker in an ELECTRIC SEQUENCE! Crowd is alive for this. Choshu is trying for the clasp but cant get it. Lazy transition into the Choshu Saito Suplex but I do love a good Saito Suplex. Yatsu/Choshu Double Team on Tenryu. We may have our first heat segment. Nope Tenryu tag out. Yatsu bullies Jumbo into the corner. Jumbo big boot, Jumbo Death Lariat and he got all of that one. Jumbo back elbow to break free of the Yatsu German. Jumbo holds onto the ropes and Yatsu missed the dropkick. Jumbo stepover toehold into the Inverted Indian DeathLock. This has much more the standard All Japan Workrate Tag match between these four. Doesnt have their personalities or magnitude of the previous matches. Still great but not as special. Jumbo working a standard toehold and now trying for a Boston Crab but Yatsu makes ropes and Tenryu gets an ugly German Suplex as he comes in. Tenryu clamps on a Front Chancery. I think this is our first heat segment nope Spike Piledriver on Tenryu as Choshu tags in! Definietly more All Japan-y with the frequent tags. Choshu applies the Scorpion Deathlock three-quarters on Tenryu who is resisting in pushup position ok Choshu has it. That was a sick struggle. Dug that. Yastu elbow drops Tenryu in the hold always a sick spot. Choshu vertical suplex on Tenryu but Tenryu gets his foot on the ropes. Double suplex on Tenryu. This is our first really good heat segment. Here we go. Yatsu Bulldog! Yatsu stomps on Tenryu in the ropes. Choshu blitzes with a reverse elbow and tries for a Scorpion Deathlock. Choshu Scorpion Deathlock but Jumbo breaks it up. Yastu Saito Suplex but Tenryu is too close to the ropes and is pretty close to Jumbo. Tenryu dropkicks Choshu and tags in Jumbo. Not the best transition. Jumbo Misses the Death Lariat they do the Double Clothesline spot that hey are fond of. Choshu Saito Suplex as the crowd starts to get into it. Jumbo tags out already. Tenryu ENZIGUIRI! Tenryu bodyslam you know what comes next, but Choshu heads him off at the pass. Jumbo Saito Suplex on Choshu. Tenryu Enziguiri on Choshu as Jumbo and Yatsu brawl on floor. Tenryu Saito Suplex. Jumbo Death Lariat on Choshu. Did Jumbo pull him up? Rewind! He did! He pulled him up! But why? Some crazy Sandwich spot gets fucked up. Jumbo and Yastu on the floor. Chosu Mack Truck Lariat 1-2-3! Jumbo looks like a fool! I dont understand Japanese but I am pretty sure the interviewer asked Jumbo "You had him down for three, why did you pull him up?". I think my favorite Japanese phrase is "Count to three" which they seem to use as a way to say pinfall or victory. I wonder if the finish was to plant the seed of dissension between Jumbo & Tenryu to foreshadow their impending breakup later that year. For me this was just standard All Japan workrate tag team wrestling which is elevated by the fact that these are four of the best all time to do it, but it lacks the hooks that the first two matches had. ****

NWA International Tag Team Champions Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - AJPW 2/5/86 Only 8 days since their classic these two teams are back for more. I know they have four very famous matches and that first, which I just watched his the best, but I dont know the ranking of the other four matches. My goal is to watch and review all four today. What a Sunday treat! To conserve time, I am going to do this stream of consciousness style: Choshu has a full bandage around his waist which is to be expected based on the last match. We start with Yatsu vs Jumbo which is different. They each want the other's partner but it is ALL A PLOY! Yatsu dropkicks Jumbo out of the ring and SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON THE FLOOR! Ok this match is off to the fucking races! Jumbo is fucked early. SPIKE PILEDIRVER IN THE RING! Choshu stomps away. Love this start. Yatsu crashes down on Jumbo. Kneelift on Jumbo and he is in a bad way. YATSU BULLDOG! Tenryu kicks Yatsu in the head from the apron to break up the pin. Double Suplex on Jumbo. Choshu is getting his licks in after getting destroyed last match so you know he is loving this. Choshu & Yatsu had a plan. Yatsu works a standing toehold and then back to stomping. Choshu running reverse elbow and bodyslam. Choshu slaps a chinlock on Jumbo. They might have started off too hot as they are having a hard time following up. Yatsu applies a more conventional sleeper. Yatsu neckbreaker drop. Single leg/backheel trip. Scorpion Deathlock time, he wraps up the legs and it is quite the struggle to get him over. but Choshu immediately collapse. Yatsu comes in and is able to apply quicker nd better. Maybe Choshu's ribs bothering him more than we know. Choshu stomps Jumbo in the hold. Tenryu needs to do something! This is getting out of hand. Choshu figure-4s the head. Yatsu in. JUMBO DEATH LARIAT! Tags in Tenryu! Started off excellent but petered out for sure. They could make up the ground, but I think 1/28 will most likely take it. Tenryu races in and romps and stomps all over Yatsu. Suplex and then a chinlock by Tenryu. Yatsu slithers to the outside as Tenryu tries to kick his head as he makes it to the floor. Ref holds him back and Yatsu tries to fire himself up. Firefight breaks out! Awesome stand & bang. Tenryu pelts Yatsu with slaps but Yatsu gives as a good as he gets. Yatsu nice back heel trip but loses control of the takedown and Tenryu applies an armbar. Tenryu maintains wrist lock and tags in Jumbo. Jumbo meaty kneelift on Yatsu and he raises his arm to let the crowd know he is at full strength and stomps away at Yatsu. Another big meaty kneelift and stomps Yatsu. Jumbo bodyslam with authority! Jumbo abdominal stretch which doesnt feel as cool as the last match with Choshu's injured ribs. Yatsu does a standing switch on the ab stretch. Jumbo hiptosses him out over the top rope. JUMBO VS CHOSHU! Stand & Bang! High Knee! Saito Suplex! It is on! Only gets two for Choshu! Jumbo tags out! Double sledge on Choshu who is left clutching his ribs. Tenryu ribs the bad ribs and now Jumbo on the apron stomps the ribs and Tenryu ribs. Choshu fights through it an applies a Scorpion Deathlock. That was ELECTRIC! Jumbo breaks up the Scorpion Deathlock. There was a tag I had to rewind to see it. So it was not illegal. Jumbo stays in and stomps the bad ribs and then applies a bodyscissors. That was missing in the last match. They have an excellent scuffle all in the bodyscissors with fists flying, hair pulling and intense looks. This rules! Jumbo full mount in the ropes slapping Choshu. Tenryu toe kick to Choshu's abdomen. Tenryu kneelift to Choshu. Chosh slegde Lariat! Yatsu dropkick on hot tag! Back drop by Yatsu. Russian Legsweep. Kneedrop by Yatsu. Back suplex by Yatsu. Jumbo tags in and reverse elbow. Jumbo Death lariat but not as good as most of them. Jumbo piledriver! Choshu tagged in. Choshu has no bandages. Double Lariat spot! Jumbo goes crazy with the double axehandles! Jumbo holds Choshu for Tenryu who sledges him and then Enziguriri for two. Choshu enzigiuir. Yatsu tags in. Awesome Belly to Belly Suplex by Yatsu! Poweslam by Yatsu! Tenryu clubs Yatsu with a lariat to tag out. Jumbo Boston Crab! Yatsu in the push up position. Jumbo backbreaker. Yatsu kicks out. Jumbo with a proto-Steiner Recliner, what a funny name for a move. This as been more uneven than the previous match. There has been some really hot shit and some parts where it peters out. Tenryu gutwrench suplex. Doesnt feel like it is going to end soon but I feel like it should. Tenryu's Poerbomb had no heat even though it was the finish 8 days ago. Tenryu Texas Cloverleaf. Tenryu tags out. Jumbo double axehandle to the back. Jumbo misses the high knee to the turnbuckles. Yatsu is so close to tagging out. Jumbo is selling his knee like a million bucks but is able to impede Yatsu long enough and bring him over to Tenryu. Tenryu piledriver on Yatsu for two. It is not about the moves but how you do them. Tenryu's powerbomb and piledriver have no heat because he is building to them to feel liek climatic spots. Any move can be a climax and any move can a be a throwaway. It is all how you build them. Eniziguiri sandwich. Yatsu heat segment it is. Tenryu powerbomb but Choshu Saito Supelx and Jumbo High Knee on Choshu. Yeah we needed more Choshu inteeference that was something that was lacking. Jumbo fires up Tenryu. Tenryu goes charging in. He is desperately holding onto the ropes as Yatsu is trying to German Suplex him. Jumbo wants a break because Tenryu isnt in the ropes. The ref turns to argue with Jumbo and Choshu winds up LARIAT ON TENRYU! Tenryu loses his grip. Yatsu German Suplex, Jumbo foolishly gives chase to Choshy and 1-2-3! NEW CHAMPIONS TO A MASSIVE POP! The invading Choshu army were definitely not heels in the eyes of the fans. A ***** beginning and a ***** finish to this match. It started off so fucking good. They just couldnt follow up those wicked Spike Piledrivers. They did an inverted format relative to 1/28 where Jumbo went into heat first and then Choshu. I felt like the heat segments both petered out. There was not a real strong crescendo. I was like this match is starting to get long in the tooth, but there is no big finish run. It is like a 30 second one. It is a great match but pales in comparison to the one 8 days before even though I love the finish of this one a lot more. Actually putting this finish on their first match would probably make it a Top 50 match of all time for me. Still worth watching.

NWA International Tag Team Champions Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - AJPW 1/28/86 Frenetic Maelstrom of Kickass Pro Wrestling! I cant believe I have never seen this before. I could have sworn had like 8 years ago and just never wrote a review but I definitely didnt watch his badassery. Excellent Interpromotional War! I loved how Jumbo & Choshu didnt bump or sell for shit earlier. Not every move needs to be sold as painful, have some pride, my dudes. I love how Choshu was trying to keep his injured ribs away from Jumbo. I love the disrespectful slap exchange between Jumbo & Yatsu. This is how an Interpromotional War should be booked with tons of pride and passion. I like how it is an overzealous Tenryu that caused the dynamic to shift and for finally someone to take heat. The one slightly unexpected aspect is that initially the invading Choshu feels like the sympathetic babyface as he is getting his ribs dissected and his Scorpion Deathlock feels like a massive babyface comeback spot. Then they flip the roles back to normal when Jumbo who had been Walking Tall all match has his head bashed into post and is bleeding. The crowd is losing their shit over all this. It is nonstop action in the best way possible as it is just four dudes trying to tear into each other. I knew this match was special coming into it so I wanted to watch it once without typing and those were the things that stuck out to me. So now I am going to rewatch and do stream of consciousness: It has been twenty minutes since I watched this badass slice of pro wrestling and am excited to rewatch it. Choshu had been in the promotion for a year now but this is really what it has been building to. I didnt talk about Yatsu much in the preamble, but he was an excellent assassin in this match. He knows when to strike for maximal effect throughout the match. They waste no time and start out with the two heavy hitters Choshu & Jumbo. Choshu throws a toe kick to keep Jumbo away from his bandaged right side. Jumbo is caught off guard that he could not lock up. Jumbo throws one back and Choshu blocks. Jumbo tries again bit to no avail. Collar elbow tie up and Jumbo kicks the bandaged side and Choshu sells it as a close shave. Choshu single back heel trip and Choshu stomps and Jumbo right back up. Jumbo goes for his signature bodyslam but Choshu backs into Yatsu for the tag out. Just two bulls that didnt give an inch. Loved it. Yatsu goes for the snapmare and Jumbo fights it off. Jumbo is not giving them anything! I am here for it. Yatsu CRACKS Jumbo with a slap. Two more. Jumbo says you best be ready and he gets his receipt. It is on! Jumbo wants Choshu! Jumbo and Choshu go at it with slaps. Jumbo tags out. Tenryu chops Yatsu on the apron and Choshu drives him into the corner. Rookie mistake. I like how it is Tenryu that makes it. First double team goes to Choshu & Yatsu on Tenryu. Yatsu kneelift on tenryu and I love that is Tenryu as the first to get heat on him. Spike Piledriver on Tenryu. This is building so well. Choshu throwing haymkers at Tenryu and Tenryu gets in with a single leg pick up into a toehold then figure-4. Dont love the use of the Spike Piledriver if that is what was to follow. I think they are chanting for Choshu. Choshu rolls toward Yatsu hits an Excellent Top rope elbow on the prone Tenryu who sells it like a million bucks. Jumbo comes in and stomps Choshu on the injured side. It is getting chippier and chippier. Tenryu tags out. Jumbo does not hit his customary High Knee but opts for two kneelifts that leaves Yatsu to powder. Yatsu dropkick gets him right back in it and the first time Jumbo bumped. Double suplex on Jumbo. They exchange shots, Jumbo body shots and High Knee and Choshu looks to be in peril. SAITO SUPLEX BY CHOSHU! He needed that, but Jumbo is up first and to quote Jesse The Body that has to be depressing as hell. It took too much out of Choshu. They slug it out with a double clothesline spot. Choshu is in a bad way and they double sledge him. Tenryu is in and is stomping away at Choshu. I love the gradualism of the Choshu heat segment. He was throwing Suplexes and Lariats to try to save himself but he was already in too deep. So good. Jumbo is proud of himself as he is stomping the ribs but the crowd is mixed. Tenryu suplex on Choshu. Jumbo kneelifted Choshu in the ribs and then tore off the bandage. Yatsu finally had enough and tries to take a wing at Jumbo but the ref holds him back. Tenryu gets involved. Jumbo abdominal stretch! He has his back to Yatsu. DOUBLE AXEHANDLE FROM THE TOP! Perfect transition! Love it! It is all up to Yatsu! Dropkick! Saito Suplex! Tenryu goes crazy on Choshu as Jumbo is in trouble . Yatsu kneecrusher. Tenryu had peeled around the ring to attack a lying Choshu and then whipped him into the railing. Bounced a chair off him. Yatsu goes for the Spinning Toehold. Tenryu Saito Suplex on the prone Yatsu. Jumbo Death Lariatx2! Jumbo applies a Boston Crab as the JWP boys tape Choshu back up! Yatsu is in the ropes. The fight is on! Shit has exploded! Tenryu tagged in. Tenryu kneelift to Yatsu and slashing chops. As Choshu is crawling back up Tenryu attacks Choshu. Yatsu keeps Jumbo at bay and Choshu tags in. Choshu dropkick to a pop! Choshu single leg! SCORPION DEATHLOCK TO A MASSIVE POP! The girl in the fur coat losing her mind in the front row rules! Choshu's ribs give out and he collapses and tags out to Yatsu which is an awesome way to end that hold. Jumbo walks tall and slings Yatsu into their corner. It does not look good for him. In what I believe is a first, the first time I have sene the Sling shot Suplex done by someone other than Tully Blanchard as Tenryu does it to Yatsu. Yatsu neckbreaker dorp on Jumbo. and YATSU BULLDOG ON JUMBO! He sends Jumbo out. Choshu bashed Jumbo's head into the post repeatedly drawing blood. It is a melee and Tenryu loses control and beats this shit out of Choshu using railings and chair. So begins the third act. Yatsu suplexes Jumbo back in and Yatsu goes crazy working the cut, piston punches to the open wound! Killer. Yatsu throws Jumbo out. They bash his head into the post again. Tenryu is in a blind rage towards Choshu. He beats him on the announce table. Yatsu piledrivers Jumbo and Jumbo had to kick out on his own because Tenryu is so obsessed with Choshu. Saito Suplex by Yatsu for two! Red hot shit. Yatsu punches the cut and Jumbo slaps but he cant follow it up. Yatsu Texas Cloverleaf is an odd choice in what has been a red hot series of kick ass wrestling. Yatsu backbreaker and then a Scorpion Deathlock ok thats more like it. Tenryu HITS AN OUT OF CONTORL LARIAT TO SAVE! Tenryu almost went careening out of the ring. Choshu stomps the cut as the ref is trying control Tenryu and now the ref scrambles back to peel Choshu off Jumbo. Jumbo is firing up. He tags out. Tenryu Enziguiri. Choshu breaks it up. Tenryu enziguiri as Choshu and Jumbo fight on the floor. Yatsu German suplex! Huge pop! Crowd is going crazy! JWP boys are on the apron screaming that was three. Yatsu gets Hotshotted and Tenryu Enziguiri/powerbomb polishes him off to a big reaction. That was awesome! Loved how everything crescendoed. The early stuff was excellent, the Choshu heat segment, Yatsu as a one man gang, Jumbo getting bloody. When I think about it compared to my other tippy top matches, I dont think the finish is quite there for me, but that is a nitpick that you have to do when thinking in context of Top 100 matches. This rocked so hard! ****3/4

NWA International Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba vs Fritz Von Erich - JWA 9/4/71 I loved their 1966 classic! This is only my third Fritz Von Erich match and he is already my third favorite Von Erich, the dude totally rules! He calls Baba crazy mid-match, he sells Baba holding his hands high, looming above his head, he hits really fucking hard. Fritz rules! First Fall: The Drama of the IRON CLAW~! I dont understand people who dont love a well-worked Claw. This was fantastic! Everything was about the Claw. Fritz tried his damndest to get the Claw applied. He tried crowding in the corner and on the mat. I love his punt kicks! His body shots and clubbing forearms just CRACKED! Baba resisting with all his might the Power of the CLAW~! was high drama! It was like the best possible action movie shit to happen in a pro wrestling match. Then Fritz settles for the Stomach Claw when he cant get it on the head. I love it! They get into a RED HOT strike exchange! The sounds of flesh on flesh! HELL YEAH! Baba hits two big dropkicks and a ton of Giant Chops to pick up the first fall. These two have killer chemistry with each other. Second Fall: What a terrific fall! Baba tries to press his advantage by crowding in the corner but it backfires as Fritz unleashes hell with these close-quartered punches that look nasty as hell. FRITZ GETS THE CLAW IN THE CORNER! Baba slips free to the floor. Fritz does some trash talking and lets Baba know he is in his head. Baba responds with a top wristlock. Fritz cracks him with a slap. Fritz counters into a Stomach Claw and Baba cracks back! This is awesome! GIANT CHOP! DROPKICK MISSES! IRON CLAW~! THAT IS BLOOD! OH MY GOD! THE STARS ARE ALL FALLING FROM THE HEAVENS! THIS MATCH RULES! Fritz ties it up. I love pro wrestling. Third Fall: Fritz runs over and PUNTS BABA! IRON CLAW! Baba makes the ropes. Fritz drives his Claw hand into the mat! BABA BITES THE CLAW HAND! BABA WONT LET GO OF THE CLAW HAND! THIS IS KILLER! Baba goes full psycho trying to shatter the hand! Fritz reapplies the Claw in the ropes but wont break and the ref calls for the DQ! FUCK! Cant believe we got that lame ass finish. Fritz is just as pissed as me and is going to take it out on the ref when Inoki comes in and wallops him. OH MY GOD INOKI VS FRITZ! Sign me up! Yes please! Did a quick google search, Wrestling Gods why do you tease me so? This match fucking ruled! Both these guys crushed it! Terrific pro wrestling! ****1/2

Rikidozan vs Killer Kowalski - JWA 5/17/63 Rikdozan clicked for me here. I enjoyed watching him pound the shit out of Kimura or figure out the riddle of Haystacks Calhoun, but I thought he was kinda one-dimensional, but there was a moment here where he roared back against Kowalski with a bodyslam and I was like I get it. He is the Bruno Sammartino of Japan. He is not supposed to be the best technically. He is the National Hero. He is rough, rugged and has dirt under his nails. Thats what makes him special. As a Bostonian, I am really looking forward to digging for more Kowalski. Cool finishes, Kowalski won one fall by countout after a bodyslam to the floor and Rikidozan won the third fall with a Single Leg Crab after working the knee. I must have missed one of the other falls. Fun little watch.

Rikidozan successfully defends his NWA International Championship against Pat O'Connor who has Killer Kowalski with him. There is more grappling in this. The ref is white but this takes place in Japan and O'Connor cheats early with some closed fists and Rikidozan complains to an unsympathetic ref. The falls were not that interesting. Rikidozan loves his slashing chop. The spot that stands out is that O'Connor got his head caught in the ropes in 1963! I am watching these clips to build up to watching full Rikidozan matches. So far they have been more of a historical curiosity, I dont find his working style or personality that compelling honestly.

Rikidozan vs Bobo Brazil - JWA 8/14/57 How is there not a documentary on Bobo Brazil, the Jackie Robinson of Pro Wrestling, what an important figure. The dude was massive and I know Rikidozan was not that tall. Rikidozan is sponsored by Mitsubishi. I have noticed there is not as much grappling in Rikidozan matches, yes he will do it. He prefers to stand & bang. It was Bobo's Coco Butt vs Rikidozan Slashing Three Quarters chop. I enjoyed it. It looked like Brazil opened Rikidozan up as the ref was checking on him. Brazil looked to give up on the match and then comeback. I am glad we have this. Cool footage.

Rikidozan vs Haystacks Calhoun - JWA 3/24/1963 Haystacks Calhoun is one of those wrestlers that my Dad's and uncles always, always cite as someone they fondly remember so anytime I get a chance to see him in action. I jump at the chance. I cant believe Haystacks made the trip across the Pacific in 1963! That must have been tough. Excellent David vs Goliath match. All of Rikidozan usual power spots fail because Haystacks is just too damn big. He cant throw him around. Haystacks is just absorbing his strikes. Haystacks offense is chest bumps in the corner and a full nelson and I am here for it! He wins the first fall I believe with a Full Nelson. Second fall Rikidozan roars back with is patented slashing chop to the neck which Haystacks sells well but comes back with more girthy offense. He goes for the Full Nelson but Rikidozan kicks off the ropes and Haystacks is a turtle on his back and cant get his shoulders up. Crazy that finish has been around since at least 1963. Third Fall Haystacks misses the World's Biggest Splash. Rikidozan try as he might can barely get the Giant over only for Haystacks to roll through. Haystacks back to the Full Nelson they tumble to the floor for what I believe is a double countout. Really fun match. Too clipped to rate, but I enjoyed this.

Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura - JWA 12/22/54 Inaugural Japanese Heavyweight Champion The winner of this would be crowned the Inaugural Japanese Heavyweight Champion. I believe up until this point Rikidozan only exclusively worked foreigners mostly in tags. Kimura would sometimes tag with him as I watched clips of them against the Sharpe brothers. This is terrific old school pro wrestling. It felt more like a Greco-Roman wrestling match with all the stand up and waistlock. There was a great pure waistlock takedown by Rikidozan. You clearly knew who the star was and who was the better wrestler. They made no secret that Rikidozan was taking Kimura down at will. Headscissors, double wristlock (now known as a Kimura) and a bodyslam. There was a terrific Rikidozan deadlift into an Argentine Backbreaker that popped me. Rikidozan making Kimura flinch by threatening the overhand chop popped me. The finish was FUCKING BRUTAL! Kimura just stood there took some of the nastiest fucking head shots you'd ever see. It was black & white but you could see the bruises and welts forming. There were two Americans in the audience with massive 1950s cameras taking pictures and just lapping it up. Rikidozan tee'd off! Cool look into the past. I believe we got 11 minutes of a 15 minute match. ***1/2

I didnt know I needed it but I really needed Rikidozan falling off a surfboard in Hawaii, picking up two chicks literally and hitting an inside the park home run! This definitely made me more excited to see Rikidozan and as El-P pointed out Thesz busting out a powerbomb in 1953 is pretty killer.

Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen - AJPW 12/6/89 Real World Tag Finals Watched this a week or two ago, I was amazed at how good it was. Yatsu's head injury performance gives this workrate-oriented All Japan tag match the hook it needed to keep you invested when sometimes the style/genre can be a little workrate dense/noisy. I didnt write a review at the time but had it at about ~****3/4 in my head and fun fact I dont remember who won! I have an excellent short term memory but the shits for a long-term memory which is why I write such detailed reviews. I am going to watch this back stream of consciousness style and am excited to fall in love all over again: Yatsu has the amateur wrestling headgear on with strap. If I recall correctly in the other Real World Tag I watched with Yatsu he had that on. I cant remember if I know what happened or not. Yatsu tries to get the crowd revved up. Surprised he is starting based on his injury. Tenryu stalls and Yatsu tags in Jumbo. Jumbo won back the Triple Crown from Tenryu in October. Tenryu says he wants Yatsu and Yastu obliges. Yatsu throws a much of headbutts using the padded helmet and then throws an explosive dropkick. Tenryu tries to fire up and meets more headbutts. He throws him to the Grizzly Hansen. Stan bashes him as Tenryu holds him and Tenryu is left holding his own head after all the headbutts. Yastu escapes to Jumbo. Jumbo and Hansen collide. Jumbo wins the second collision with a High Knee. Jumbo and Hansen get into a wrestling match with Jumbo trying work an armbar on the mat into a half-nelson cover for one. Some really nice selling early from Tenryu and like Yatsu tempting fate as there is a break in the action thought I'd throw in some commentary. They exchange slashing chops as Hansen throws Jumbo into into Tenryu. Tenryu blocks the High Knee as customary and is about to wrangle an inside cradle. Tenryu gets an Enziguiri, but must have been more of a grazing blow as Jumbo throws Tenryu into Yatsu. Yatsu clothesline and Harley Race style falling headbutt. Yatsu attempts a powerbomb. Hansen tags in. Frequent tagging a hallmark of the All Japan tag style. Yatsu gets an enziguiri in the slugfest but Hansen lunges with a shouldertackle and kneelift to the head and it looks like they have finally rattled the injured Yatsu. Spoke too soon as Yatsu evades a double shouldertackle and Tenryu goes ass over tea kettle on the top rope and then railing courtesy of a Jumbo Tsuruta Irish whip. Nice fakeout. Tag into Jumbo. Footloose Jumbo Death Lariat into Tenryu in the corner as Jumbo plays to the crowd and Tenryu slumps into the corner. First five minutes have been hot and mostly Jumbo/Yatsu. Jumbo bulldozes Tenryu with a Thesz Press for two. Tenryu looks to be in peril as they are building momentum on him which is a nice change of pace from the frenetic All Japan style. Knee Sandwich as called by the announcer. Tenryu closed fist stymies Yatsu on Dangerous Back Drop Drive attempt. Yatsu works hard and earns an overhead belly to belly suplex. Tenryu looks like shit. Hnasen has the wisdom to break it up. Jumbo High Knee and Dangerous Backdrop Driver on Tenryu as Hansen saves again. I forgot they did a compelling Tenryu in peril segment first which I really like. They are really built some momentum. Yatsu butterfly supleZ and kneedrop on Tenryu. Tenryu grapevine trips Yatsu on the belly to belly suplex. Yatsu fall back on his head and is left clutching it! HERE WE GO! Tenryu tags in Hansen and everything is a VICIOUS BLOW TO the head! It has begun! Hansen is stepping on The head. Jumbo makes the saves as Hansen is stepping on his head in the ropes. The ref breaks it up. Yatsu powders but to no avail as Hansen keeps stomping. HANSEN RIPS OFF THE HEAD GEAR! Another stiff short knee and another, another. It is a merciless onslaught. He tags in Tenryu. Tenyru kicks him in the head. I cant way for the classic Tenryu stomp to the head; no one is better at that. Tenryu follows Hansen's lead it is nothing but knees, fists and boots to the head. Hansen tosses Yatsu's carcass to the floor. He drives Yatsu's head into railing. Jumbo tries to save as Hansen has Yatsu. Hansen pops Jumbo with an elbow. It is a melee. Hansen is a rabid dog with a bone. He wont let go. Yatsu is too close to the ropes. Tenryu tags in and its an Enzgiuiri to the head. THERE IS IS! Tenryu's stomp to the head! This is brutal. Wicked chop from Tenryu the first time it has not been a blow to the head. Tenryu with repeated headbutts to the injured cranium of Yatsu. Brutal. Yatsu deadweights Hansen on the suplex. Hansen says not a bother, and plants him with a DDT. Tenryu blasts Yatsu with a Lariat and then slaps Jumbo off the apron for good measure. He throws a kick at the fallen Jumbo. Double suplex on Yatsu as he looks like he ripe for the pickin'. Yatsu kicks out on his own. I am ready for the hot tag. Hansen slashes Jumbo with a chop. Lets see if we get it. Yatsu trips Hansen but Hansen uses a waistlock to role Yatsu into Tenryu. Tenryu enziguiri. Tenryu bodyslam Reverse Top Rope Elbow MISSES! CMON YATSU! LETS GO! Hansen knedrop. We needed that hope spot. That has reinviogorated me. They trade chops, Hansen and Yatsu. Hansen duoble axehandle stops any Yatsu momentum dead in its tracks. Hansen holds Yatsu as Tenryu chops him. Tenryu wrist control and chops Yatsu and Yatsu ducks and a quick German gets two for Yatsu who can hold it. Yatsu makes the tag! HOT TAG! Jumbo ROARS! Jumbo slap barrage! Jumbo Big Boot! Jumbo pops him with an elbow. Jumbo Death Lariat! Hansen has to leapfrog Tenryu's fallen body as Jumbo pops him and then reigns down heavy blows on Tenryu. Hansen saves by crashing down on Jumbo. High Knee to Tenryu sends Tenryu into Hansen for the tag. Jumbo meets him at the pass. Jumbo dropkicks Hansen. Jumbo is a one man wrecking crew! Jumbo abdominal stretch is an interesting choice in what has otherwise been a red hot tag! Yatsu is still of apron as Jumbo gets two. Can Jumbo the Ace win this alone? Hansen is selling like a champ. His jelly leg sell on the Irish whip is amazing. It is like he is melting. It made Jumbo Thesz Press look more authentic. HEY! Thats Rat Boy Watching! Dangerous Back Drop Driver! Tenryu saves. Jumbo might have punched himself out as he is slowing down. Jumbo drags Tenryu in for a big boot. Jumbo leaves himself prone going for a German suplex. HANSEN LARIAT TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! Jumbo & Tenryu both collapse. Jumbo is left clutching him head. It doesnt look good for Olympians as Yatsu is getting his head/jaw taped up. Hansen is beating Jumbo up and Yatsu comes divining for the save. Lets Go Yatsu! Hansen tags in Tenryu as Jumbo is fucked. Hansen bodyslam and Hanse Rocket Launcher! HOW DID I FORGET THAT SPOT! That was insanely awesome! Jumbo kicks out. I remember Yatsu getting his taped how did I forget the rocket launcher. Tenryu blasts Yatsu off the apron. SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON JUMBO! Yatsu saves again! He wont let Jumbo die! Everybody looks like they have been through war. Hansen with these short nasty knees to Jumbo. Jumbo reverse and knees Hansen right in the mush. Hansen on the outside. YATSU BULLDOG ON THE EXPOSED FLOOR! I remember that spot! HELL YEAH! That fucking ruled! Jumbo inside cradle in the ring Tenryu races to save but Hansen kicks out on his own. Yatsu hot tag! GIVE EM HELL BRUTHA! Yatsu kicks Hansen in the head and then heabdutts the wound. Headbutt Tenryu down. Yatsu headbutts Hanse relentlessly. Fuck Yeah! Yatsu Bulldog! Tenryu saves and kicks Yatsu hard in the head. Jumbo has had enough and SNAPS~! He blizted Tenryu with a brutal elbow barrage. Hansen pummels Yatsu with everything he has. The is insane. Jumbo cuts Tenryu off and back drop off the top. Hansen keeps pummeling Yatsu. Tenryu Enziguiri Hansen when he was holding him. AWESOME MISCOMMUNICATION SPOT! You dont see that often in Japan. Yatsu only gets two! Cmon Yatsu! Jumbo top rope Jumping knee but Tenryu saves. Tenryu SUMO SLAPS Jumbo off. Tenryu ground & pound. That was one of those awesome, intricate All Japan finish runs. Tenryu holds Hansen to save him from getting Bulldog out of the corner. You can smell The Lariat from a mile away. They do a bunch of fake outs. The best is when Hansen tugs on the elbow pad, the crowd goes wild and Yatsu DROPKICKS him on the attempt. The crowd and me loses our collective shit! I wont do every detail but suffice to say Hansen CLOBBERS Yatsu with the Lariat to win the match and the vacant All Japan World Tag Team Titles. Helluva match which I liked even more the second time around. Loved both hot tags, really enjoyed Tenryu's heat segment because it lulls you into a false sense of security that everything is going to be alright for the Olympians. Everything once Yatsu gets bandaged up is pure pro wrestling gold. *****

Hhahaha I have seen this match before, but you get a whole new appreciation watching the TV surrounding it. I kinda felt like I had seen the Spike Piledriver like I was getting some Deja Vu, and it turns out I was justified. NWA World Champion Ric Flair vs Mid-South North American Champion Butch Reed - Mid-South 11/9/85 Non-Title They recreate the 1983 Crockett Bounty Angle with Ric Flair playing the role of Harley Race, Butch Reed playing the role of Ric Flair and Dick Slater playing well the role of Dick Slater! More things change the more they stay the same. Flair is hot at the beginning of the show because ol Tricky Dicky Slater has his $50k, but has not delivered on his promise of injuring Butchie. Slater said earlier in the night he was leaving Mid-South and gave the money back. It is too much trouble. This led to speculation that he did have the money but was afraid of both Flair and Reed. Later in the night, North American Champion Butch Reed won his Squash with a flying shouldertackle. Flair was scheduled to wrestle Al Perez, but Butch Reed comes out. Flair calls Reed, "a monkey", heavy sigh and they jaw. Eventually, they come to blows and we have an impromptu match! Very fun TV match. Reed overwhelms Flair early with heavy rights. Reed is one of my least favorite Flair opponents, I find their matches drag and Reed doesnt add much, but this was a sprint so more fun. Flair makes Reed earn his offense as Reed has to fight through a barrage of chops and Short Knees. An underrated element of Flair's game was the short knee and how he would throw to turn the tide of battle or as a heel hope spot the babyface would have to fight through. Once he stopped using it, it was to the detriment of his matches. Reed gets a backslide and Flair gets his toe on the rope, nice climax to the shine. Flair takes over using the Short Knee and Kneelift. Flair uses the double stomp! Always a mark for that. He throws Reed to the floor and plays King of the Mountain. Reed grabs a sleeper but Flair hits the Back Suplex which is usually the prelude to the Figure-4. Flair hollers "Now we go to school" as he hooks him up for the Suplex, but Butch wins the suplex struggle! Reed starts throwing those heavy hands. Reed has great, heavy punches! Flair Inverted Atomic Drop! Thats another move like the Short Knee is such an effective heel transition that makes 80s Flair so versatile that once he stopped using it, it really hurt his matches. Reed fights through that and Flair misses a chop, FLYING SHOULDERTACKLE! 1-2-3! Reed has pinned the World Champion! Dicky Slater hits the ring and beats him up as Watts is shocked & appalled. Flair & Slater Spike Piledrive Butch Reed! It was all a set up to injured Reed! Not as great of a match as the Harley vs Flair match that set up the similar bounty angle, but still really good. I liked the wrinkle of Reed winning so that you really feel robbed when Reed gets injured. You really feel that Butch is putting everything together and now Slater/Flair has really screwed him. All night they were saying Flair is wrestling tonight, but next week is when he defends the title. You know Reed would've gotten the shot but he has been screwed. So who will step up? Who? Who? Who? Terrific 80s stuff! ***1/2 match, *****angle.

Been raining cats & dogs up here in New England, stationary bike is getting a work out. Sticking with Mid-South because I want to see how Dicky Slater and Buzz Sawyer do. Mid-South November 1985 11/2/85 Distasteful Angles w/Dark Journey: I will buy "it was a different time" argument for certain things but not for this shit. Dark Journey is a black woman and Dick Slater is a white man. On screen, they are a heel couple in the South in the 1980s to get race-baiting heat. Hacksaw Duggan, a white man, who is a BABYFACE, calls Dark Journey "a thing" and "not a lady" is pretty bad. Would he said it about a heel, white woman? Maybe. Thats why, I am 50/50 on it. But Butch Reed, a BABYFACE, crossed the line. I am a white man and Butch Reed is a black man. I hesitate to say this, but this is a classic case of how a black man can be racist against himself & other black people. I say that with trepidation as a white man, but I believe in what I am about to say. Butch says he is a proud BLACK man and the problem with her is that she doesnt know who she is, referring to the fact that she is a black woman with a white man. She slaps him. This is when I couldnt believe what I was hearing. He said you know that a black man doesnt treat his women as a white man that if she does it again, he will knock her out. WHAT THE FUCK? In 1985, every single American knew you never hit a woman and that man on woman violence is reprehensible. For Butch Reed to physically threaten her and demean his own race and himself at the same time was dumbfounding. I dont have the words. That was one of the worst segments I have ever seen in pro wrestling. Main Angles (Dicky Slater & Buzz Sawyer Show): Separating out the abhorrent Dark Journey attacks, we have ACTUAL man on woman violence, but it is the kind I do accept in pro wrestling because heels should be heels and it made sense in the story. So last week on the program, Duggan and Slater get into an altercation. I discussed what Duggan said above. Duggan's girlfriend is in the ring. Slater's running buddy, Buzz Sawyer gets in the ring and it is going to be 2 on 1 on Duggan. Duggan's girlfriend hops on Sawyer's back and he rams backwards into the turnbuckles. Duggan slugs him and he drops the elbow on his girlfriend. Slater & Sawyer bloody Duggan. Duggan cuts a promo on Sawyer and says he is going to beat him to a bloody pulp for what he did to his girlfriend. This is the match that lit the powder keg that was one of the most awesome feuds of the 80s producing two amazing brawls on the Mid-South DVDVR set and recently covered on the Way of the Blade with @Phil Schneider and my good buddy & fellow metalhead @goodhelmet. They discussed the December Dog Collar match which is excellent but I prefer the bloody brawl from Nawlins which is bitchin' as fuck and I went a full *****. Sawyer won his squash with a powerslam. That's not all, folks! Apparently the Nature Boy, Ric Flair hired Dick Slater for $25,000 to put North American Champion Butch Reed out of action (Butch won the title from Dick Murdoch in October thus becoming the #1 contender, both of the Reed vs Murdoch matches are classics and must-see). Reed comes out and spews all his racist, misogynistic drivel. He wants Slater to come at him. Slater said he gave back the money and wants no part of them. There is no physicality and Slater wins his squash with a Samoan Drop. Butch Reed squashed poor Dutch Mantell in a North American Title Match. Dutch jumped him at the bell and hit his finish, a front suplex, but Reed kicked out. Reed suplexed him on the next attempt destroyed him with some punches and a leaping shouldertackle from the top rope. Time for Dutch to find a new territory, methinks. Match of the Night: Ted DiBiase & Dr. Death vs Mid-South Tag Team Champs Al Perez & Wendell Cooley by default everything else was a squash. I had high hopes for Butch vs Dutch but nothing doing. This is non-title. Loser has to wear long spandex and tennis shoes. I dont get it. I guess DiBiase was saying Perez & Cooley want to look like rock & rollers so they should dress like it. I guess he made a jab that they would look like aerobics instructors. It was 1985, brutha, this outfit was already commonplace in wrestling, they werent going to look weird. Oh in a weird moment, Ricky Gibson, Robert's brother was out, and Joel played an old video of the Rock N Roll Express who to my knowledge didnt come back to Mid-South so that was a waste. Anyways, the match was a totally fine Southern tag match. Usual shine, Doc & DiBiase seem to like the blind tag, dropdown, attack to kick off their heat. Cooley is a better wrestler than Perez and does most of the work. He is fine peppers in some hope spots. Doc got a good power spot in. They do the Pier-Six melee, Doc or DiBiase trips Cooley on a suplex so that the other falls on top for the win. So the babyfaces have to dress up like the Rock N Roll Express basically. Ok match, lame angle. Midcard Mania: KWANG~!'s push is over as he & a nobody jobbed to the Bruise Brothers which was Porkchop Cash & some other dude doing a Blues Brothers gimmick. Eddie Gilbert is going an angle where women can win a poster of him if they write in a letter and tell him all the things they love about him. I am a sucker for these angles. The part where Gilbert has increased the word limit to 50 words because too many women were stressing themeslves out and losing sleep with only 25 words to describe how hot he was or that they would only focus on one body part when there was so much more was hilarious. It did get a little long in the tooth but the beginning of the promo was gold. He won his squash with a hotshot. You can see the dividends that Slater & Sawyer are paying already. Nord & Lord, the losers are out and Slater & Sawyer are in and the show is much better for it. The racist, misogynistic attacks against Dark Journey notwithstanding, Duggan vs Sawyer is an all-time great feud and Reed vs Slater is gonna be great. Next week is the DiBiase vs Flair angle so Im pumped! Crazy that DiBiase is about to turn face when he is doing lame midcard heel shit in this episode. 11/9/86 JR got me he announced Flair for next week's show so naturally I thought it was the famous angle with DiBiase but that is actually next week. They got Flair for two weeks you see which makes sense since they tape two episodes at a time. Main Angle: They recreate the 1983 Crockett Bounty Angle with Ric Flair playing the role of Harley Race, Butch Reed playing the role of Ric Flair and Dick Slater playing well the role of Dick Slater! More things change the more they stay the same. Flair is hot at the beginning of the show because ol Tricky Dicky Slater has his $50k, but has not delivered on his promise of injuring Butchie. Slater said earlier in the night he was leaving Mid-South and gave the money back. It is too much trouble. This led to speculation that he did have the money but was afraid of both Flair and Reed. Later in the night, North American Champion Butch Reed won his Squash with a flying shouldertackle. Flair was scheduled to wrestle Al Perez, but Butch Reed comes out. Flair calls Reed, "a monkey", heavy sigh and they jaw. Eventually, they come to blows and we have an impromptu match! Very fun TV match. Reed overwhelms Flair early with heavy rights. Reed is one of my least favorite Flair opponents, I find their matches drag and Reed doesnt add much, but this was a sprint so more fun. Flair makes Reed earn his offense as Reed has to fight through a barrage of chops and Short Knees. An underrated element of Flair's game was the short knee and how he would throw to turn the tide of battle or as a heel hope spot the babyface would have to fight through. Once he stopped using it, it was to the detriment of his matches. Reed gets a backslide and Flair gets his toe on the rope, nice climax to the shine. Flair takes over using the Short Knee and Kneelift. Flair uses the double stomp! Always a mark for that. He throws Reed to the floor and plays King of the Mountain. Reed grabs a sleeper but Flair hits the Back Suplex which is usually the prelude to the Figure-4. Flair hollers "Now we go to school" as he hooks him up for the Suplex, but Butch wins the suplex struggle! Reed starts throwing those heavy hands. Reed has great, heavy punches! Flair Inverted Atomic Drop! Thats another move like the Short Knee is such an effective heel transition that makes 80s Flair so versatile that once he stopped using it, it really hurt his matches. Reed fights through that and Flair misses a chop, FLYING SHOULDERTACKLE! 1-2-3! Reed has pinned the World Champion! Dicky Slater hits the ring and beats him up as Watts is shocked & appalled. Flair & Slater Spike Piledrive Butch Reed! It was all a set up to injured Reed! Not as great of a match as the Harley vs Flair match that set up the similar bounty angle, but still really good. I liked the wrinkle of Reed winning so that you really feel robbed when Reed gets injured. You really feel that Butch is putting everything together and now Slater/Flair has really screwed him. All night they were saying Flair is wrestling tonight, but next week is when he defends the title. You know Reed would've gotten the shot but he has been screwed. So who will step up? Who? Who? Who? Terrific 80s stuff! ***1/2 match, *****angle. Jake's Surprise: It looks like Nord may be gone, but Lord is still here. Jake dropped Humongous with the DDT at a House Show which gave him enough time to finally DDT that loser Humperdink. Humongous did the Zombie Situp~! What the fuck is Jake to do?!? Jake has a bag before the Humongous squash or maybe it was before Nightmare & Eddie Gilbert's squash I dont recall. I will admit I was fooled I thought it was a Snake. He said it was asleep, it seemed logical, but during Jake's squash it was actually a BLUE goalie mask! Humongous wears a WHITE goalie mask! Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit! I do like it. Watts was saying pro wrestling doesnt dictate what people can wear during the Humongous squash because it is WRESTLING BABY! It is up to the opponent to get creative. Watts pops a boner for this angle. This is CREATIVE BABY~! says Watts. Humongous does nothing for me. I like this angle advancement. This is what we need more of now in pro wrestling. Simple week to week progression like this. Midcard Mania: No Hacksaw Duggan on this episode. When Slater was crying scared at the beginning, Sawyer was with him and wanted to know why he was being fined $5000. Good stuff from Sawyer. Gilbert & Nightmare are back together. Nothing earth-shattering. Humperdink says he has smoothed things over and three of them are on the same page. Pretty lame reset booking. Gilbert is still doing the Poster contest. KWANG~! is the one was squashed by Jake The Snake. Watts informs us that Midnight Rider and Duggan rid Mid-South of Skandor Akbar and now KWANG~! is a jobber. Bruise Brother won a squash. Nothing from Murdoch, DiBiase, Doc, Perez & Cooley or the Fantastics. The Flair-Reed-Slater Angle was gold. Sawyer's promo was just enough to keep the Duggan feud hot, but you didnt much from there. The Humperdink stuff is pretty tepid midcard heel shit, but with such a hot angle on top, no reason to focus on any of your other top stars so good use of Jake vs Hump.

All Japan Triple Crown Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu - AJPW 4/19/90 Man I thought I conjured up the bitchin' angle of Stan Hansen jumping Tenryu in the aisleway, beating the shit out of him and Lariating him in a fever dream! I kept thinking I would run across it in one of these Jumbo vs Tenryu matches but I never did. I thought I just made it up! Here it is. That means the first Jumbo vs Tenryu match I ever watched was actually their last because that opening angle left a real mark on me. I really think thats one of the best angles ever and should be stolen done every 5 years or so by a promotion so cool. I checked Hansen & Tenryu dropped their tag titles back in March to the Miracle Violence Connection. Jumbo makes the save swinging the Championship belt. Hansen cuts a promo at ringside calling himself the #1 contender before storming off. Jumbo goes to help Tenryu up and Tenryu SLAPS him! IT IS ON~! This match is usually described as underwhelming but I thought this rocked! I loved the sprint beginning with Jumbo hitting the High Knee, blocking the rebound Lariat and going for the Dangerous Back Drop Driver only for Tenryu to shift his weight and instead Tenryu nails his finish, the Powerbomb for a three count. Starts like that will always be over with me. With the adrenaline levels lowering, Tenryu clamps on a headlock, Jumbo elbows out but sells the Powerbomb. I like the dynamic that Tenryu has absorbed a Lariat and Jumbo a powerbomb, it makes the match feel even. Jumbo hits the Death Lariat in the corner. Jumbo control segment with some Tenryu hope spots sprinkled in is very good. We get a Jumbo Death Bodyslam which I always love and the Jumbo flying knee. On second attempt, Tenryu nails an Enziguiri and Jumbo sells it like he was been KO'd. Tenryu attacks the leg with his legbar and a wicked Inverted Indian Deathlock but relinquishes due to his own pain. They kinda fuck up Jumbo getting Hotshotted on the Thesz Press and then they go into the big All Japan finish run. It becomes the Powerbomb vs The Dangerous Backdrop Driver. Tenryu absorbs one Back Drop Driver but cant hit his powerbomb and the second one polishes him off. Coming in at a brisk 12 minutes and change, with that kickass Hansen angle at the beginning, plus the hot sprint, and a great finish, this is easily an awesome match. It is too bad Tenryu left, I would have liked to seen more Hansen vs Tenryu match, but ultimately it was for the best, if Tenryu's doesnt leave than Four Corners would have never arisen! The only reason I can surmise why this is rated so low is due to the lofty expectations set by 6/5/89 because otherwise this was a ton of fun! ****1/4

Riki Choshu & George Takano vs Genichiro Tenryu & Tiger Mask II - NJPW 2/10/90 This is apparently a New Japan promoted show with some talent from other promotions on it, but it has Tenryu pre-AJPW split and Tenryu vs Choshu always rules. Based on this one match, if you asked me who became a bigger star in the 90s, I would say, Takano. He was throwing himself into every move and bump. Misawa felt generic. We get Choshu vs Misawa for hot second, but Misawa knows where the bread is buttered and tags in Tenryu. Choshu attacks him at the pass and IT IS ON~! Awesome, badass skirmish that Choshu gets the better of. Takano tagged in and Tenryu bullies him into the corner. Takano and Misawa have a great sequence. Takano really gets up and meets Misawa on the dropkick and crossbody to make the moves look even better. Takano gets control and Choshu is threatening to put Misawa in the Scorpion Deathlock. Misawa gets free and HOLY SHIT TENRYU IS ON THE WARPATH~! Some of the best chops you will ever see in your life. That second exchange between the two was just ferocious. I kinda forget the sequence of things after that. I am pretty Choshu hits a Saito Suplex here to be able to tag out. Tenryu has a great sequence with Takano too which would end up being one of the first big SWS main events. Takano is able to take over on Misawa again, but this time Choshu gets too close to Tenryu and he just stomps his head through the ropes. Is there anyone better at stomping the head than Tenryu? Misawa tags out and Tenryu punishes Choshu's head. Choshu slugs him with a lariat. Choshu loses control again and melee breaks out. The finish run is hot & hectic. Takano saves with a crazy back suplex when Tenryu was going for the Top Rope Reverse Elbow. Misawa wipes Choshu out with a Spinning Heel Kick. Takano baseball slides Tenryu out but misses the killshot Enziguiri! Tenryu shifts weight on back rope driver. Misawa fucks up his knee on the bodypress and Choshu attacks it. Takano and Misawa have their time to shine. Takano hits an awesome dropkick and slingshot dive combo. Choshu CREAMS Misawa on the apron into a Takano Saito Suplex! That was wicked! Love Tenryu's response to suplex and just punch Choshu in the face. Misawa eats shit on his slingshot attempt. Lots of insanity! Takano wipes out Tenryu on a powerbomb attempt with a spinning heel kick but then misses the Kappou Kick in the corner. TENRYU CLOBBERS TAKANO ON THE APRON! SAITO SUPLEX BY CHOSHU! Scorpion Deathlock attempt on Tenryu but it doesnt matter they arent legal. Misawa beats the count and Takano is counted out. Tenryu vs Choshu ruled! Takano was pretty damn great into this too. Misawa needs to take off the mask. ***1/2

Pat O'Connor vs The Mighty Atlas - Chicago 5/16/52 Im a little burnt out on Japanese wrestling going to take a short break here and revisit some 50s American Wrestling. Jack Dempsey the famous American boxer is the special guest referee. Mighty Atlas does a half-strongman, half-stooging heel gimmick. Russ lets us know he is a real peacock at the beginning of the match. His stooging is not dissimilar from what you would see from a Gorgeous George or a 80s Southern heel. O'Connor at the time is a young star that Russ says has a bright future ahead of him, he would be vindicated. O'Connor is an impressive technical babyface. First Fall: Simple, but elegant. Atlas tries to cheat but to no avail as O'Connor is too good. Atlas preens too much and ends up eating two dropkicks right at the bell. I thought there was a chance for a quick fall. Atlas mostly goes for punches in the ropes. He misses one wildly that sends him sailing over the top rope. All Heeling 101 but very effective. O'Connor shows his combination of agility and technique varying his holds using a headscissors, headlock Full Nelson and a Inverted Indian Deathlock. Atlas breaking out of the Full Nelson was the only strongman spot thus far. He does have mighty big arms I must say. Where I left them O'Connor was hiptossing him out of headlock attempts nothing that will blow your mind, but the elementary elegance is refreshing. O'Connor goes for the Banana Split but comes up with an Inverted Indian Deathlock applies very well but too close to the ropes. Atlas builds the most momentum thus far with some European Uppercuts that rock O'Connor over the top rope to the floor and he plays a little King of the Mountain as Russ cries foul. O'Connor vaults over the top rope and lets Atlas have it. Airplane Spin FU! I wish instead of Cena going for the Super FU when the first FU didnt work he did the Airplane Spin FU :p That of course is the finish as it should be O'Connor 1-0. Second Fall: Per usual, a short fall but given the time left in the video I thought O'Connor might've had a good chance for the clean sweep. Very nice reverse back heel trip by Atlas to avoid the Full Nelson. Atlas lands some clubbing blows. I like how O'Connor registers and then ROARS back with a beautiful strike combination more of that in wrestling. They do a real Slam Bang finish which each man leaping for moves but missing only for Atlas to apply his finish, what else but a Full Nelson. He grabs the Fall to tie this up. Fun sprint fall. Third Fall: Hot finish with Atlas trying to win the match by applying a Full Nelson again immediately but O'Connor says if Im going down youre going down with me and he dove through the ropes and they both take a nasty tumble. I bit on the countout finish as means to protect Atlas but he gets back in only to eat a dropkick and fall back to the outside. He gets back in, dropkicked, ricochets off the ropes into an AIRPLAN SPIN FU for the win! Nothing to write home to your mother about, but solid wrestling nonetheless. I think much of Atlas, he was fine. O'Connor against the right opponent looks like he can put on a marvel. ***1/4

All Japan World Tag Team Champions Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen vs - AJPW 10/20/89 I watched the original title change back in July which didnt make the DVDVR set surprisingly but was bitchin' as hell! Tenryu dropped the Triple Crown a couple weeks prior. Does Jumbo retain all his gold or is Tenryu able to reclaim some glory? I didnt see the title switch back to Jumbo & Yatsu, which happened on 7/22. I might have to look that match up at some point. I am looking forward to his based on July! 1989 All Japan Tag means stream of consciousness: Tenryu & Yatsu to start! Tenryu makes sure to chop Jumbo while he is on the apron. Already this has way more heat than the 10/14 six-man! Jumbo tags in. Yatsu counsels him first. Tenryu slaps Jumbo and Jumbo headlock. Criss-cross, Jumbo shouldertackle and Jumbo death bodyslam. I love Jumbo's bodyslam Double Chop and they try for the knee sandwich but get the double chop instead. Yatsu knee to Tenryu. Hansen tags in. Hansen has a huge bandage on his back which I assume he has been awfully quiet thus far. Hansen does seem subdued. Yatsu backs him into a corner. Hansen fights out. Yatsu is sledging the back. Hansen bullies Yatsu into his corner. Hansen/Tenryu double shouldertackle. Tenryu with some vicious stomps to head. Slashing chops to Yatsu and bashes his head into the buckles. Snapmare into the figure-4 headlock. Yatsu frees himself goes for inverted figure-4 but Hansen comes crashing into him with an elbow break it up. Hansen in and he kicks at Yatsu and a dropkick by the big man. Hansen punches Yatsu in the ropes. Hansen cant prevent the tag to Jumbo. Jumbo shoulderblocks into the ropes and Jumbo double axehandle to Hansen injured back. Hansen flails in defense and wrestles Jumbo to his corner. Tenryu slashing chops! Jumbo big boot on Tenryu! Jumbo Big Boot Gain! Jumbo is revved up and raises arm to crowd. Jumbo elbow to Tenryu . Yatsu stomps Tenryu slumped in corner. Yatsu reverse elbow on Tenryu. Yatsu belly to belly suplex. Hansen interferes and Tenryu knee to Yatsu. Tenryu Enziguiri to kneeling Yatsu. Hansen tags in. Yatsu meets him at press and slugs away at back. Hansen fires back. He tugs at the Elbow Pad early to a big reaction! Hansen comes in red hot charging but goes ass over tea kettle over the top rope to the floor, careening into the railing injuring his already injured back. Tenryu checks in on him. Jumbo double axehandle off apron onto injured back and then whips Tenryu into railing. Very strong first five minutes. Stomp to the injured back. Great targeting of the injured back. It gives this tag a hook, which a lot of All Japan tags from this era sorely lack. Jumbo is relentless on the back and tears off the bandage. Tenryu attacks him from behind and Yatsu attacks Tenryu. Yatsu Bulldog on Tenryu on floor! Yatsu adds a sledge to the back of Hansen and then throws him back in. Jumbo finishes the job with a MASSIVE bodyslam! Jumbo tries to muscle Hansen over into a Boston Crab. Hansen makes it to the safety of the ropes. Yatsu continues to drub the back of Hansen like a drum. I loved wounded bear Stan Hansen the best. It is when he is at his most dangerous. Yatsu bodyslam and stomp. Yatsu is relentless attacking the back Jumbo tags in and goes up top but Hansen powders. Hansen creates space and throws wild strikes to try to keep Jumbo at bay but Jumbo just keeps coming. Hansen topples a Young Boy as he looks for quarter but Jumbo will give him none! Hansen is being out Hansne'd by Jumbo & Yastu. Hansen deadwieght to Jumbo. Hansen grabs the hair and throws a headbutt. Hansen punches Jumbos' side and based on the way Jumbo flinches he might have something. Jumbo wisely tags out to Yatsu double suplex gets two but Tenryu breaks it up. Yatsu camel clutch on Hansen. I never thought I'd write this sentence but this is great heat segment on Stan Hansen of all people. Hanse blasts Yatsu with an elbow on his knees. He is the best type of face in peril always fighting back. Another double suplex gets two as Jumbo is now in with him. Hansen keeps throwing kicks from his back. Jumbo fires back. Hansen lunging headbutt tp midsection. Jumbo pummels him down his attacks to back. Tenryu comes in and chops Jumbo. This is so different than I expected and I Love it. Yatsu double axehandle to Hansen's back from top. Single Leg Crab by Yatsu. Hansen does not look good. Yatsu applies the inverted Figure-4 but Hansen grabs Yatsu's hair and throw rapid fire headbutts but Yatsu tags out to Jumbo. Jumbo back to work on the back. Hansen starts his hulk up. Great shit! Jumbo ends the rally with an abdominal stretch boooooooo. Tenryu double axehandle crashing down on Jumbo. Enizguiri! Hansen stomps and hot tag! Tenyu slashing chop. TENRYU MACK TRUCK LARIAT! He toesses Jumbo to the floor. Hansen chops Jumbo on the floor. Hansen headbutts Yatsu. Back in ring, Tenryu BLASTS Jumbo with a Footlose Lariat in the corner. Sick Lariat. Hansen exposes his knee in exact sweet revenge kneeing Jumbo in the head. Hansen falls back under the weight of Hansen as Jumbo is left clutching his head. This is killer. Jumbo inside cradle! Tenryu reverse for two! Tenryu keeps attacking head and gets two count. Bodyslam by Tenryu. Hansen elbow drop for two. COWOY KICK! Wicked knee to head by Hansen. Jumbo no sells a double shouldertackle in a weird moment. DANGEROUS BACK DROP DRIVER BY JUMBO! Weird way to get to it, but i like the move as transition. Hot tag to Yatsu! Yatsu stomps away at Tenryu. Hansen comes in and gets promptly bodyslammed by Yatsu who will not be denied. Yatsu is a one man gang fending off everyone. GEATEST SPOT EVER! Hansen throws Yatsu off on a bulldog attempt and Tenryu TRUCKS HIM WITH A LARIAT! Yatsu dropkick gets him back in contention. Hansen comes charging across the screen and knocks Yatsu off the rope and takes a nasty tumble to the floor. Hansen beats him up on the floor and throws him in. Double suplex by Hansen and Tenryu. Hansen drives and grinds his knee into Yatsu for two. Yastu backdrops out of Spike Piledriver attempts and press slams Tenryu off the top. Hansen lunges and crashes down on Yatsu as Tenryu knocks the injured Jumbo off apron. They steal Jumbo & Yatsu's Spike Piledriver and do it in their corner! Add insult to injury. As Hansen Is pinning Yatsu, Jumbo and furiously slaps the shit out of Tenryu. Jumbo kicks Hansen into the head repeatedly is all revved up. Hansen fires back and it is on. Hansen throws Jumbo out. It leaves Tenryu and Yatsu alone. Hansen whips Jumbo into the railing. Tenryu & Hansen double team YATSU WITH THEIR DOUBLE POWER FINISH FOR TWO AS Jumbo saves! WESTERN LARIAT BLASTS JUMBO! Hansen misses Lariat on Yatsu and elbow and Tenryu misses the Enziguiri. We miss the Lariat that does Yatsu in, which is a shame. This fucking ruled! Take the awesome workrate you already know youre going to get from these four but then add in a Hansen back injury hook that carries the front half of the match and explains why Hansen is not his usual wrecking ball self. Then on top of that add a great heat segment on Jumbo where he has had his bell rung and he can never shake the cobwebs loose again which leaves Yatsu easy pickins for the Tenryu/Hansen superteam. Next time I watch this I want to see what caused the Jumbo head injury. The finish run was excellent, the shove off the Bulldog into a Monster Lariat could have been the finish. Stealing the Spike Piledriver. Jumbo pissed but not really able to do anything about it. The Double Powerbomb! The Monster Lariat to knock Jumbo out of contention once and for all. The only thing I wish was a little bigger was he actual finish finish but that might just be since we miss it on camera. Excellent match from a matchup that people should talk about more! ****1/2

Jumbo Tsuruta, Great Kabuki & Kenta Kobashi vs Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada, Ricky Fuyuki - AJPW 10/14/89 On paper, this looks like a pretty killer Jumbo's Army vs Revolution match! Looking forward to BABY KOBASHI~! vs Young Kawada! It is 1989 All Japan tag so stream of consciousness: Great Kabuki has Ultimate Warrior facepaint on! Kabuki just seems like a weird fit in ultra-serious All Japan. Inoki always liked the freaks more, seems like he'd be a better fit for New Japan. We start with the big guns right off the bat. Three days prior to the his Jumbo won the Triple Crown. Jumbo is able to nail his High Knee early and raise his fist to the crowd. Second one and Tenryu doesnt look good. Jumbo pulls him by the hair to his corner. Kobashi tags in and double teams with Jumbo. Dropkick to Tenryu sends him into Kawada. Kawada tags in. Kobashi heads him off at the pass. Another dropkick for Kawada. Kobashi has plucky white meat babyface offense. He wraps Kawada up in a front chancery. Kawada powers out and sits him up on a neutral corner and slaps the taste out of his mouth. Tags in Fuyuki with a reverse elbow and then a Boston Crab. Kobashi powers out, roll up sequence. Headlock/headscissors get again, face off applause, a harbinger of whats to come in the wrestling world. Kobashi applies a cross armbreaker to Fuyuki this being in 1989 not sold properly. Kobashi tags in. Kabuki has the best uppercuts! Nice meaty lariat from Kabuki. He looks weird but a great wrestler. Nice armbar takedown from Kabuuki as he works an armbar. Armwringers and another armbar takedown. It has been all Jumbo's Army for the most part. Kobashi double axehandle to Fuyuki's arm, drop toehold but Fuyuki affords a tag to Tenryu who tags over with back body drop and bodyslam. Kawada dropkick after he tags in. Nice bodyslam/Senton combo. Kawada looks great as always. Kawada moves to the Single Leg Crab, but no stepping on his head. Great stretch though but Kawada. VICIOUS CHOP BY Tenryu! Nice crossbody but Kobashi tags out to Kabuki. Kabuki throws some amazing uppercuts that ring Tenryu's bell, amazing Tenryu standing selling. Fuyuki chops to Kabuki who doesnt fight back. Bodyslam/legdrop combo. Kabuki superkick. Jumbo high knee! Jumbo chinlock on Fuyuki. Jumbo abdominal stretch. Kawada breaks it up. Kobashi missile dropkick as Jumbo holds. It blows him so far away Kawada tags in. Kobashi heads off at pass again and then vertical suplex back to front chancery. Kawada kicks in the corner. Kawada big vertical suplex. Kobashi spinning heel kick gets two. Kabuki great body punches to Kawada. Is Kabuki good in the US? Nobody ever talks about him. Kabuki drops down into a tight leglace. It actually looks good and I hate that hold. Kabuki drops the knee into the knee. Those body punches were great. Does Great Kabuki vs Fujiwara exist? Tenryu breaks it up and Kobashi tags in. Kobashi with an amazing Single Leg Crab. Kawada uses free leg to kick Kobashi in the mush. Jumbo sets too early and allows tag to Tenryu. Jumbo owns Tenryu again with High Knee for third time, but on the fourth time, Tenryu HOTSHOTS JUMBO! Cowboy kick! Tenryu tries for the Reverse Top Rope Elbow, but Kabuki interferes. Jumbo Death Lariat in th corner! Jumbo brings him over to Kobashi who fires away. Tenryu SMOKES Koabashi with a chop. Kobashi crashes and burns on a dropkick. Kobashi deadweights on a suplex attempt. Kobashi wins the suplex struggle. Kawada tags in and spinning heel kick for two. Kawada Frenetic Lariat! Tenryu tags in Footloose Lariat in corner as Tenryu looks contemptuously down at Kobashi. Tenryu chops to Kobashi. Tenryu bodyslam with authority on Kobashi and Cowboy Kick. Kobashi powerslam on Fuyuki wisely tags in the FIghting Machine that is Kabuki. Snap suplex and neckbreaker by Kabuki. Jumbo vs Tenryu! JUMBO DEATH LARIAT! 1-2-NO! Holy shit! He smoked him. Jumbo wants the Buttrerfly suplex. Tenryu back body drop. Kawada tags in and kicks Jumbo a bunch. Kawada gets low on Suplex attempt but Jumbo is well too Jumbo for Kawada. Jumbo tags in the workrate God Kabuki. Kabuki bodylam! Kabuki dropkick on Kawada. Kabuki tags in Kobashi. Kobashi chop on Kawada and crossbody. Tenryu a double axehandle helps Kawada get a suplex on Kobashi. Sandwich kick as as called by announcer as Footloose double team Kobashi for two. Kobashi Kappou Kick why he did stop doing that! Kawada missed the dropkick. Kobashi tags in Jumbo. Jumbo nearly takes Kawada's head off with High Knee. Kobashi back in. Kobashi Fisherman Suplex on Kawada. I am pretty sure Revoluton is going to win they are getting their asses kicked. Koabashi Kappou Kick and baseball slide as Kawada goes to outside. Kawada slams Kobashi onto railings and tags in Fuyuki. Fuyuki abdominal stretch. Kobashi hiptoss out. Tenryu Tenryu slashing chop on Kobashi. Back body drop and Cowboy Kicks! Tenryu suplex. Fuyuki back to the abdominal stretch NO ROLLING CRADLE! POPEPD ME! Even though crowd doesnt care. Kobashi tags in Jumbo. Jumbo High Knee to Fuyuki to surprise of no one. Good Jumbo vs Kawada fire fight ends with a Jumbo big boot. Kabuki back in, Hell Yeah! Kawada spinning heel kick, Kabuki evades and doesnt sell shit. He just throws sick uppercuts and thrust kicks. Fuyuki Thesz Press for to! Excellent Kabuki uppercut coming from Sweet Home Nobeoka! Kobashi reverse crossbody for two. Fuyuki kneelift and tags in Kawada. Kawada kicks at midsection. Kawada overzealous and they end up Spinning Heel Kicks simultaneously. Kobashi dropkicks Tenryu repeatedly, spinning Heel kicks. Tenryu Lariat! Kobashi Kicks Out! Tenryu Double Leg Takedown Finish but Kabuki uses sweet uppercut to break up the pin. Tenryu tries again but Kabuki shoves Kobashi on top for him for two! Kobashi crashes and burns coming off top but get inside cradle for two. Kobashi about to take a nap soon me thinks. Tenryu powerbombs as Footloose stands guard for the win. Callled it! This is a workrate-driven, action-packed tag that never drags but also really never crescendos or gets out of second gear. It is six kickass wrestlers so it is still very good. Kabuki and Kobashi raise this above good, but doesnt quite get to great. ***3/4

I love me some Dirty Daddy! I love the intensity & passion he brings to every match. He was definitely the #1 week to week highlight of me attending Beyond's Unchartered Territory. I love that he has been influenced by both All Japan & Shoot-Style which is a great combo. I have not seen him in any garbage/deathmatch but I bet his FMW love comes through there too. I think his biggest strength is not walking through these big bomb throwing matches, not doing my turn, your turn. He makes his opponent earn their offense and he comes up with smart transitions to his own bombs in the finish run. In 2021, he is a longshot, BUT in 2026 I am projecting him as a distinct possibility.

Kevin Von Erich seems to have deleted his Twitter account but he had replied or DM'd me after I sent him my blog praising his work in World Class. I had asked him how did he get that mentality he took in the ring. He just said his father told him to make it look like a shoot as much as possible and he took to the fucking extreme. I love Kevin Von Erich! I love uncooperative wrestling. I love that fought through everything. That shit to me is just electric. His matches with Flair and Race and tags against Freebirds and Adams/Gino are all-timers. This whole he needs to sell more stuff rings hollow for me. Variety is the spice of life. Do I want everyone to wrestle like Kevin Von Erich NO! But I dont want everyone to wrestle like Ricky Morton either! I would love a Kevin Von Erich in wrestling right now. Uniqueness is probably the most important thing to me. Can you have a match that no one else can have because of who you are? Kevin Von Erich checks that box because nobody wrestles like Kevin Von Erich! A lock for my Top 100!