[1990-08-29-AJPW-Summer Action Series II] The Fantastics vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

A pretty rare match that only aired on local TV. Rogers is a skilled mat worker, and the action here is excellent. I don't think this is a match worth going out of your way to see or anything, but I enjoyed this because all four were working in a way where it seemed like the most important thing in the world to them. Some excellent highspots from Kobashi and doubleteam moves from Rogers and Fulton.

[PeteF3]

Kobashi gets the pin on Rogers, which is probably one of his first televised wins. This was enjoyable but I didn't understand what it was doing on the yearbook until reading that it was a rarity--I guess that explains the VQ, too.

[soup23]

Fun glimpse into four individuals most of us are familiar with but not really around this time that much. Kobashi working the match as the main guy on his team was an interesting role to watch him play at this time.

[Kevin Ridge]

Last minutes and some decent action. Kobashi with the Hogan running leg drop to win.

[garretta]

It was interesting to see the Tastics not only work heel here, but mix in some doubleteams that their longtime rivals the Midnight Express made famous. We got to see the rocket launcher and flapjack, each executed about as well by Rogers and Fulton as they ever were by Condrey, Lane and Eaton. Corny would have been so proud!

 

Boy, did Johnny Ace look different here from what I remembered earlier in the set when he was a Dynamic Dude. I still can't quite see the resemblance between him and Animal, though.

 

Is it true that Johnny was a so-called "special favorite" of Baba's wife, if you know what I mean, which all but guaranteed him a job with All-Japan for life?

 

This looked like a decent match that would have been at home in All-Japan's biggest buildings.

[drew wardlaw]

Cool match, fairly inconsequential, but some good work and I really liked Kobashi's leg drop.

[dawho5]

Not used to seeing Ace this fired up. He goes a little far with the screaming before each forearm, but at least it's not bland Johnny Ace. Always love seeing the Fantastics show up in AJPW.