[1993-10-01-WAR] Masa Chono & Shinya Hashimoto vs Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Yet another good match in the series. Chono is slowly getting more involved in this feud. The spike powerbomb was awesome, and there were some really good saves and nearfalls. Really an All Japan tag layout that isn't quite as good from an action standpoint, but it's still excellent.

[Kevin Ridge]

Finally we get a match on Tenryu's home turf in WAR. Did feel a bit like AJPW though less polished in the ring. Tenryu's double underhook submission is the big thing going.

[PeteF3]

The WAR Special hold is getting a huge push right now. It works, considering what a beating Chono took down the stretch. We see one of the first instances of the power bomb/reverse neckbreaker combo that would become a staple of Nitro-era WCW, at least until it almost killed a Villano. There are a few hope spots for Team NJPW after that, but they're quickly cut off. Nice to see Hara play such a big role here--he very nearly gets a credible pinfall on Chono and plays a key role in the victory. I like him better in these settings than at pretty much any point in '80s All-Japan.

[garretta]

Chono and Hash tried their best here, but this was Tenryu and Hara's night almost from start to finish. Hara looked great for a grizzled old vet, and Tenryu continued his domination of Chono from their singles match in September. If New Japan is still looking for someone to be a force in this feud going forward, they should scratch Chono off the list immediately.

 

I understand that they want to get Tenryu's new submission over, and making Chono submit twice in two tries is a hell of a feat, but I would have felt better if Chono had been pinned off of either the double clothesline or that powerbomb stunner or whatever it's supposed to be called. That move could be the nineties version of the Doomsday Device if it's built and used properly, as it looks absolutely lethal.

 

Does anyone else feel like Chono's STF is being too easily weathered and/or countered? Hara got trapped in it twice, but he was able to reduce it to a simple crossface by working his leg free, then make it to the ropes. If this hold is supposed to be the number one submission in Chono's arsenal, then shouldn't Tenryu have had to make the save each time the hold was applied? (He tried both times, but was cut off by Hash each time.)

 

WAR's really been dominating this feud lately, much like NJPW was for a while. New Japan needs to pull their socks up and get some big wins if they want interest in this feud to continue, and finding a way to beat Tenryu cleanly once or twice would be a good start.

[soup23]

Hello 1993, Not a bad match at all to jump back into as the WAR vs NJ feud is still one of the best I have seen in wrestling. This is on WAR's turf and the NJ contingent is strong with Chono and Hash. Chono continues to show more fire and emotion here than at most any other point in his career. Hashimoto is awesome in the role and him and Tenryu have these sequences where you are clamoring for another singles match between them two. Hara and Tenryu do a nice powerbomb, neckbreaker combo on Chono in the waning stages that gets a big nearfall. Tenryu locks on the WAR special on Chono and he taps. Awesome finish and another match that didn't overstay its welcome in this feud. ****