[1976-08-28-AJPW] Jumbo Tsuruta vs Jack Brisco

[Superstar Sleeze]

Jumbo Tsuruta vs Jack Brisco - AJPW 8/28/76 NWA United National Heavyweight Tournament Final

 

This was actually the match that revived the United National Heavyweight Championship after JWA closed and became an All Japan belt, first Jumbo's belt, then Tenryu's belt and ultimately as a part of the Triple Crown. Brisco was no longer the World's Heavyweight Champion relinquishing that position to Mr. Terry Funk. This is a two out of three fall match.

 

The first fall features Jumbo at his offensive best. He is laser focused on Brisco's back and ain't never going to let up. Brisco actually had an early advantage countering into a crossface/deathlock and applying a bearhug, but after Jumbo hiptossed out it was all Jumbo. Tsuruta scored two backbreakers (one out of a headlock, a nice counter) and was working holds like the Camel Clutch and Boston Crab. Brisco for his part sold being overwhelmed very well, but still having his wits about him to avoid the butterfly suplex and try to punch his way out of trouble. His best hope was a sunset flip that everyone in 1976 and I bit on. Alas, it was not to be as it was little too late as Jumbo rattled a string of dropkicks and a very impressive overhead belly to belly suplex to go up 1-nil.

 

If the first fall was all about Jumbo on Jack's back, this fall was Jack targetting the leg of Jumbo to yield a submission. The fall began with Brisco trying to buy time by sticking his body through the ropes, but Tsuruta was relentless and Bisco ends up tried up in the ropes hanging upside down by his waist. It is a crazy spot and needs to be cribbed. Once Brisco gets free, he uses the ref admonishments to pick the ankle and go to work on his legs. He wraps it around the post. Jumbo tries to mount a comeback but he succumbs to the kneecrusher/figure-4 combo.

The final fall begins as the second fall ended with Brisco destroying the leg of Jumbo. Both men are obviously fatigued, but Brisco is compensating by being extra nasty. Jumbo is fighting valiantly but it looks like he is in too much of a hole as Brisco is always able to go back to the knee to keep Jumbo at bay. Brisco is very close to applying the figure-4 in one of the more dramatic moments in wrestling right before he sits back Jumbo punches out of it. Both men knock heads and the playing field is levelled. Brisco up first misses a kneedrop and this Jumbo's chance. Can't wrangle the Boston Crab because Brisco hooked the ropes, but he lifts him for the butterfly suplex, but Brisco lands feet first and by not taking all the impact on his back he is able to kick out. Brisco hits a back suplex late in the game to set up this devastating figure-4, but Jumbo reverses into an inside cradle for the biggest win of his career up to that point.

It does not get much bigger than beating the former NWA World Champion for a new championship. Unfortunately for the Japanese they were forced to leave their world championship matches empty-handed because of the nature of the beast. So for Jumbo this early in his career to defeat Jack Brisco in singles clean to win the United National Championship, I think only the bigger victory would have been over Terry Funk for the World's Championship. Excellent match and we really get to see a fully dynamic Jumbo performance. Tsuruta is one of the all-time great offensive wrestlers as displayed in the first fall, but in the second fall we see his mettle as he fights back from adversity to take the match. He sold great in the second fall and you really believed damn, it is just not the kid's night. Jack is just too ruthless and too experienced. The kid is on the cusp, but he is just not there. He keeps plugging away and he is hanging in there and just when you think he is finish he snags the inside cradle for the win. An awesome, dramatic match! ****1/2

[Microstatistics]

Man, I don’t get the criticisms of 70s Jumbo at all. He is so great as the dynamic young technician. Great babyface work and sublime selling. All that’s on display here against an awesome subtle heel performance by Brisco. ****1/4