[1986-02-05-AJPW] Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu

[Clayton Jones]

I generally see the previous match get more praise but this is more my speed. The structure of this match is brilliant and with 20+ minutes of heated, logical and nasty tag action you can see how the next generation of AJPW mastered the art of heavyweight tag matches with this foundation. One of my favorite things about this match is how at multiple points it breaks down to grown men straight up slapping each other in the face, and not at all in the modern "test your machismo" kind of way, but in a "I fucking hate you and want to punk you" kind of way. Any time there's a submission that could be seen as a resthold the opposing team breaks it up before it can become tiresome. The champs do a great job playing to their size and playing up the underdog nature of the match. For someone who is criticized for taking nights off, it's crazy to me how much Jumbo puts of himself into matches like this. The four pillars +Akyiama definitely learned this from him and I love seeing a bigger guy use his entire body language to convey what's happening and not just to get himself over. Loved the finish as well.

[...TG]

I didn't like this as much as their earlier match, but Clayton is right, that finish was great.

[JKWebb]

The hate-fueled multiple slaps to the face are awesome. I agree that this match is really good, but it doesn't quite reach the level of the previous match for me. I really enjoyed the focused attack on the ribs from Jumbo & Tenryu. I really like Choshu as the FIP. I think watching the last two matches of him delivering great selling performances have shown me the light in regards to his versatility in the ring. Great finish.

[Wahoos Leg]

Jumbo and Tenryu have a reign of two-plus years as NWA International Tag Champs. A week before, on January 28, the champs successfully defended them against Choshu and Yatsu. That match earned a five-star rating (if you’re into that sort of thing). 

This match checks most of the boxes of what I want in pro wrestling:

--It’s a match with tangible, significant stakes.

--It’s got a big-fight feel.

--There’s some real heat and hatred present.

There’s lots to like here, very few lulls, and quality intensity and physicality from bell to bell. This is a hard-fought, well-worked wrestling match that is recommended viewing for both fans and wrestlers alike and one of the better matches I've seen as part of my 365 Wrestling project. Here's my link to a full review of this match.

[Superstar Sleeze]

NWA International Tag Team Champions Jumbo Tsuruta &  Genichiro Tenryu vs Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - AJPW 2/5/86

Only 8 days since their classic these two teams are back for more. I know they have four very famous matches and that first, which I just watched his the best, but I dont know the ranking of the other four matches. My goal is to watch and review all four today. What a Sunday treat! To conserve time, I am going to do this stream of consciousness style:

Choshu has a full bandage around his waist which is to be expected based on the last match. We start with Yatsu vs Jumbo which is different. They each want the other's partner but it is ALL A PLOY! Yatsu dropkicks Jumbo out of the ring and SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON THE FLOOR! Ok this match is off to the fucking races! Jumbo is fucked early. SPIKE PILEDIRVER IN THE RING! Choshu stomps away. Love this start. Yatsu crashes down on Jumbo. Kneelift on Jumbo and he is in a bad way. YATSU BULLDOG! Tenryu kicks Yatsu in the head from the apron to break up the pin. Double Suplex on Jumbo. Choshu is getting his licks in after getting destroyed last match so you know he is loving this. Choshu & Yatsu had a plan. Yatsu works a standing toehold and then back to stomping. Choshu running reverse elbow and bodyslam. Choshu slaps a chinlock on Jumbo. They might have started off too hot as they are having  a hard time following up. Yatsu applies a more conventional sleeper. Yatsu neckbreaker drop. Single leg/backheel trip. Scorpion Deathlock time, he wraps up the legs and it is quite the struggle to get him over. but Choshu immediately collapse. Yatsu comes in and is able to apply quicker nd better. Maybe Choshu's ribs bothering him more than we know. Choshu stomps Jumbo in the hold. Tenryu needs to do something! This is getting out of hand. Choshu figure-4s the head. Yatsu in. JUMBO DEATH LARIAT! Tags in Tenryu! Started off excellent but petered out for sure. They could make up the ground, but I think 1/28 will most likely take it. 

Tenryu races in and romps and stomps all over Yatsu. Suplex and then a chinlock by Tenryu. Yatsu slithers to the outside as Tenryu tries to kick his head as he makes it to the floor. Ref holds him back and Yatsu tries to fire himself up. Firefight breaks out! Awesome stand & bang. Tenryu pelts Yatsu with slaps but Yatsu gives as a good as he gets. Yatsu nice back heel trip but loses control of the takedown and Tenryu applies an armbar. Tenryu maintains wrist lock and tags in Jumbo. Jumbo meaty kneelift on Yatsu and he raises his arm to let the crowd know he is at full strength and stomps away at Yatsu. Another big meaty kneelift and stomps Yatsu. Jumbo bodyslam with authority! Jumbo abdominal stretch which doesnt feel as cool as the last match with Choshu's injured ribs. Yatsu does a standing switch on the ab stretch. Jumbo hiptosses him out over the top rope. 

JUMBO VS CHOSHU! Stand & Bang! High Knee! Saito Suplex! It is on! Only gets two for Choshu! Jumbo tags out! Double sledge on Choshu who is left clutching his ribs. Tenryu ribs the bad ribs and now Jumbo on the apron stomps the ribs and Tenryu ribs. Choshu fights through it an applies a Scorpion Deathlock. That was ELECTRIC! Jumbo breaks up the Scorpion Deathlock. There was a tag I had to rewind to see it. So it was not illegal. Jumbo stays in and stomps the bad ribs and then applies a bodyscissors. That was missing in the last match. They have an excellent scuffle all in the bodyscissors with fists flying, hair pulling and intense looks. This rules! Jumbo full mount in the ropes slapping Choshu. Tenryu toe kick to Choshu's abdomen. Tenryu kneelift to Choshu. Chosh slegde Lariat! Yatsu dropkick on hot tag! Back drop by Yatsu. Russian Legsweep. Kneedrop by Yatsu. Back suplex by Yatsu. Jumbo tags in and reverse elbow. Jumbo Death lariat but not as good as most of them. Jumbo piledriver! Choshu tagged in. Choshu has no bandages. Double Lariat spot! Jumbo goes crazy with the double axehandles! Jumbo holds Choshu for Tenryu who sledges him and then Enziguriri for two. Choshu enzigiuir. Yatsu tags in. Awesome Belly to Belly Suplex by Yatsu! Poweslam by Yatsu! Tenryu clubs Yatsu with a lariat to tag out.

Jumbo Boston Crab! Yatsu in the push up position. Jumbo backbreaker. Yatsu kicks out. Jumbo with a proto-Steiner Recliner, what a funny name for a move. This as been more uneven than the previous match. There has been some really hot shit and some parts where it peters out. Tenryu gutwrench suplex. Doesnt feel like it is going to end soon but I feel like it should. Tenryu's Poerbomb had no heat even though it was the finish 8 days ago. Tenryu Texas Cloverleaf. Tenryu tags out. Jumbo double axehandle to the back. Jumbo misses the high knee to the turnbuckles. Yatsu is so close to tagging out. Jumbo is selling his knee like  a million bucks but is able to impede Yatsu long enough and bring him over to Tenryu. Tenryu piledriver on Yatsu for two. It is not about the moves but how you do them. Tenryu's powerbomb and piledriver have no heat because he is building to them to feel liek climatic spots. Any move can be a climax and any move can a be a throwaway. It is all how you build them.

Eniziguiri sandwich. Yatsu heat segment it is. Tenryu powerbomb but Choshu Saito Supelx and Jumbo High Knee on Choshu. Yeah we needed more Choshu inteeference that was something that was lacking. Jumbo fires up Tenryu. Tenryu goes charging in. He is desperately holding onto the ropes as Yatsu is trying to German Suplex him. Jumbo wants a break because Tenryu isnt in the ropes. The ref turns to argue with Jumbo and Choshu winds up LARIAT ON TENRYU! Tenryu loses his grip. Yatsu German Suplex, Jumbo foolishly gives chase to Choshy and 1-2-3! NEW CHAMPIONS TO A MASSIVE POP! The invading Choshu army were definitely not heels in the eyes of the fans. 

A *****  beginning and a ***** finish to this match. It started off so fucking good. They just couldnt follow up those wicked Spike Piledrivers. They did an inverted format relative to 1/28 where Jumbo went into heat first and then Choshu. I felt like the heat segments both petered out. There was not a real strong crescendo. I was like this match is starting to get long in the tooth, but there is no big finish run. It is like a 30 second one. It is a great match but pales in comparison to the one 8 days before even though I love the finish of this one a lot more. Actually putting this finish on their first match would probably make it a Top 50 match of all time for me. Still worth watching.