[1996-12-01-NJPW-Final Battle] Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Kazuo Yamazaki & Takashi Iizuka

[PeteF3]

One last notable match for Yamazaki/Iizuka, and there's a clear face/heel dynamic that's often missing in Japan.

 

[PeteF3]

This RULED. All kinds of low blows, payback spots, distracted referees (!), outside interference (!!), and other things that serve to disgrace puroresu but are oh so glorious when Team Chono are doing them. Iizuka does what he does best which is take a beating and provide hope spots, but Yamazaki is really who's holding this together, as he decides, "fuck sportsmanship" and gives back everything that Chono & Tenzan like to do. Some heart-stopping near-falls down the stretch make this one of the better under-the-radar NJPW tags of the year.