Loss Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Wow, this was great! Andre doing a basic chinlock or suplex looks like death. He has so much offense that would be so completely hokey in anyone else's hands but works well for Andre. This really picks up when Khan makes the comeback and goes after Andre's leg. I've never seen Khan work as a babyface, so him having so much fire surprised me. This feels kinda like a man in the wild trying to take it to a bear caught in a trap and having some success but still being overmatched. Still, they get over the damage Khan has been able to do in short spurts, because Andre sells and is wobbly even when he's in control. I love him covering himself so he can't feel Khan's punches anymore. No one really gets the cinematic possibilities of working as a giant quite like Andre. ****1/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVZ Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 It was really cool to see Andre as an ornery heel in this setting. And Killer Khan as a determined underdog? I was obviously surprised to see him in the role and he was pretty effective. Andre was the star of the match though, a great performance: cool variety of moves from him compared to what I'm used to, good selling and screams, and lots of prickish behavior. So many great looks of disdain. As si oem pointed out, Andre chinlocking the referee to show that his move is not a choke was a really great spot. Before I watched this the only heel work of Andre's I had seen was in the wwf after the turn on Hogan. Can anyone point to other good heel showings when he's closer to his physical peak? Really glad I got to see this, thanks for writing it up on the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Redman Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Vs Hansen, 23/9/81 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted April 17, 2016 Report Share Posted April 17, 2016 Andre The Giant vs Killer Khan - NJPW 4/1/82 Holy shit! Andre was amazing in this. The best individual performance I have ever seen him have. The spot where he has Khan in a chinlock then Khan complains of a choke only for Andre to demonstrate the move on the ref and then blatantly choke Khan in the corner is great. I love Andre complaining to the ref he is not counting fast enough. The spot where he big boots Khan while coming in the ring is cool as fuck (saw it against Hansen too). The first half of the match you don't understand how Killer Khan even has a chance against Andre who is killing it. Khan just starts letting out these Rebel Yells and going for the eyes! At this point he just needs to survive. He then goes after Andre's left leg with kicks and wrenching it against the ropes. Andre delivers an all-time great selling performance. He is a wounded grizzly the rest of the match. He lets out these bellows and just will randomly swipe at Khan. He has enough strength to still dish out the punishment. He will just chop to keep Khan back and he is so naturally powerful this keeps him back. Andre moves to a lot of ass-based offense just using his weight to crush Khan. Khan's only hope is to got back after the leg at every turn. My one complaint is that the match does kinda spin its wheels. Andre is not really trying to defeat Khan, like I see no progression in his offense down the stretch. Khan can always go back to the leg, but Andre does not seem to have a game plan to beat Khan. I love the moment when sits on Khan and tries to get up only to bellow and fall back down. The crowd is so invested in every single time Andre falls down. It is great! Andre log rolling to the outside to buy time is awesome. I love Andre in Japan what a great heel! He just sticks Khan's head in the ropes and chokes him out. No offense to Khan, but he was totally overshadowed by Andre's performance in this. Andre big boot and attempted splash shows some progression in offensive strategy to put Khan out of his misery. I loved the double chop sequence with Andre covering up only for Khan to go up top. Andre lowers his hands slowly as if to say "is it over" and here comes Khan. Khan tries again this time Andre slams him off the top and then drops his ass on his head! Awesome finish! Dusty gives him a beer and he is pumped! My two issues with the match is they kinda spun their wheels in the middle of the match and that Khan's performance is just kinda there. I don't think he had anything much unique. Wow! One of the all time great selling performances from Andre coupled with an all time great offensive heel performance. That is pretty incredible because for a heel to give such an amazing selling performance. Cant praise Andre enough in this match. ****1/2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkix Posted April 7, 2018 Report Share Posted April 7, 2018 Khan’s the cockroach that won’t stay dead. After he tries to bodyslam the Giant and fails, Andre is dumbfounded that Khan is still alive after having nearly squashed him. When Andre’s in control of Khan, Khan keeps telling the ref he’s being choked, which only further irks the big man as he keeps defending his actions to the referee. “It’s not a choke!” – for some reason, I gave Andre Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice. Such a strong performance from Andre, with Khan playing the dirty heel much to the delight of the Japanese fans. He comes at Andre with Mongolian chops but the Giant traps the arms and hits a double arm suplex. Khan goes for the eyes, poking and raking, and then he begins chopping the Giant down at the ankle. Some of Andre’s best selling here as Khan takes advantage of the situation, with Giant re-injuring himself and Khan attacking the leg. One of Andre's better in-ring performances with Khan working as the bothersome babyface heel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makai Club #1 Posted August 8, 2021 Report Share Posted August 8, 2021 Tremendous match. Andre’s selling and intelligence was on full display and Khan was able to channel that into his own performance, making him one of the biggest faces of the night, having the Kokugikan crowd hanging on to his every move. Khan won't give up, no matter what. A lot of wrestlers would've been resigned to their fate after Andre ignored their opening offence but not Khan. He is initially baffled, but soon rallies back and attacks Andre’s leg to create a crucial opening. Andre has no real defence of Khan’s leg based attacks except to power through the pain. Even when Andre regains offence, he is always in clear agony, looking for Arnold Skaaland for guidance and support. One of the great Andre matches, for sure. ****1/2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcg91 Posted August 21 Report Share Posted August 21 I don't want to overrate this, but this was fantastic. Andre took his time, killing Khan (no pun intended) slowly and calmly, until Khan finally found an open with great legwork. Andre sold like crazy and it made look Khan impressive like hell, trapping King Kong and desperately trying to keep him down to prevent any reaction. Man, even at the end things were electric, like Andre covering his face to stop Khan's blows, as his bad leg prevented him from moving promptly. Andre was a bit sloppy towards the finish, but he was probably exhausted and it also helped with the beg storytelling. I didn't expect this to be so good ***3/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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