[1977-06-11-AJPW] Harley Race vs Jumbo Tsuruta

[Superstar Sleeze]

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Jumbo Tsuruta - AJPW 6/11/77 Two out of Three Falls

 

Wow! Harley Race is a vast departure from Jack Brisco and even Terry Funk in his style of work. This is a total bomb throwing sprint. If you are going to have a bomb throwing sprint, Jumbo dishing it out and Harley eating the offense ain't too shabby of a pairing. The coolest spot was definitely hitting a backbreaker to get out of an armbar. Overall, it was a lot of slam trading with Jumbo mostly on top working the armbar and Harley creating that movement. Jumbo's armdrag is not as smooth as a Brisco or a Steamboat, but it seems more violent. Like you have no choice, but to go with him. Harley tries to use headbutts to midsection to gain an advantage, but Jumbo unleashes two wicked high knees. The second high knee is something to behold. After trying so hard to get the butterfly suplex early in the fall, he finally unleashes that beastly suplex to win the first fall. Jumbo definitely comes out of the gate strong, but he has a hard time finishing. Let's see what happens here. Jumbo 1-0.

 

1977 Spotfest baby! Harley just picks Jumbo up shoulderbreaker and then piledriver. Jumbo counters with gutwrench suplex. They settle down start to struggle with Jumbo throwing some nice European Uppercut and Harley throwing the best, most violent kneedrop this side of Misawa. Harley works the front facelock (Kelly would be pissed if we were reviewing this match). Jumbo sits out to get a nasty chickenwing and works hard to get a pinning combination before going into the standing surfboard (complete with foot in the back, which impresses the hell out of me). The one thing that has been dragging some of these 70s matches down for me is that they arent laying their shit in all the time. Jumbo and Harley just smacking the shit out of each other, which makes me happy. Shout to those Harley kneelifts to the head! YOWZA! Jumbo gets overzealous and runs into the turnbuckles. Harley looks to have trouble with the figure-4, but uses a reverse figure-4 with him falling back and Jumbo selling the hell out of it before finally succumbing. Selling is definitely not Harley's strong suit. Jumbo can go bomb for bomb with him, but is keeping the match together by adding selling and struggling. Tied 1-1.

 

To be continued, going to go see Motley Crue for the fifth and final time! SHOUT AT THE DEVIL!!!!

 

Back, I FUCKING LOVE MOTLEY CRUE! Lets finish this bad boy off before bed.

Once again, the NWA Champion has the momentum going into the deciding fall and Jumbo is left playing catch up ball. Great selling by Jumbo and smart work by Race try to go back to the same hold to win early after that it just becomes a total spotfest. They really like the running the ropes head collision spot in 70s All Japan, but man I don't. Jumbo should have known Harley always sidesteps the second dropkick by watching the '75 Baba match. Gotta do your homework, kid. Great first dropkick! Harley takes a press slam off the top rope. Jumbo really commits to the missed high knee, which I love. So many wrestlers when they know they are going to miss a move half-ass it or do it safely to protect themselves. Not fucking Jumbo on this night he went for that high knee and crashed and burned. Harley nice small package to retain the title.

 

Again, Jumbo takes that early lead, but can't put the champ away. Is he a choker? He does have the '76 win over Brisco. Total Harley Race spotfest with Jumbo going move for move. Jumbo brought the selling and kept the struggle alive. Better than your average spotfest because they were working towards a victory and there was still some sense of struggle. Still not as great as the other 70s matches. ****

[Jetlag]

This was a fun 70s style bomb throwing war. If you are phobic of matwork, this should be your match. Not the most mindful match, though. For example, Jumbo goes with his shoulder into the ringpost, which Race follows up with a leg submission. Race tries to do some legwork in the 3rd fall but Jumbo just no-sells his way back on offense. Race has a really great falling headbutt and kneedrops and it was alot of fun watching him try to explode Jumbo's head. This match didn't have anything clever or overly artful to it like some 70s classics and proves the limitations of both guys, but still built nicely and kept the crowd hot and pleased for Jumbo to take the title.