[1989-12-06-AJPW] Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen

[JKWebb]

I've seen this one before, but I was glad to come back to it today. I felt more invested coming into it chronologically. I like Tenryu and Hansen as a tag. It seems like the Hansen style rubbed onto Tenryu just a little, and when he tags with Hansen, he's a little more in Beast Mode for lack of a better term. Logically, Hansen removes the headgear of Yatsu, and he and Tenryu go to work from the there. Jumbo eventually gets the hot tag, and he is on fire! Yatsu gets his head taped on the outside while Jumbo goes to war 1 vs. 2. Yatsu eventually gets back in for revenge on Hansen. Hansen gets busted open from multiple Yatsu headbutts. Great moment when Yatsu goes to pin Hansen, but Tenryu breaks up the pin. So, Jumbo charges Tenryu and BEATS him down in the corner with stomps. Later, Tenryu returns the favor by beating Jumbo down into a corner with multiple brutal elbows to the head. It's all pretty epic. There are so many counters and saves going on, so it's a rush down the finishing stretch. Really great finish with Tenryu holding on to the tights of Jumbo keeping him from saving Yatsu who had just eaten a Hansen Lariat. This is a great one.

[JerryvonKramer]

I have this one at 5 stars and ranked 3rd on AJPW 80s set.

 

Need to re-watch some of this stuff, so awesome.

[superkix]

Oh boy, this tag match has it all: tons of hot saves, hot tags and a hot crowd, a headgeared Yatsu throwing suplexes, shitkicker Hansen throwing his brisket-fed weight around, and the pissed off of Jumbo and Tenryu. All four guys really delivered here, putting in great performances. Oh, and Hansen going to retrieve Tenryu on the outside was a nice touch. They really bully Yatsu around, with Hansen removing the protective headgear to drive home the knees. Love how Hansen falls into his clobbering strikes. When Yatsu's finally gets some leverage on Tenryu, Tenryu's able to tug on the trunks to prevent Yatsu from getting too close to the ropes. He finally hits a German suplex and the fans are buzzing for the tag to Jumbo, who comes in fired the fuck up. Hansen takes a beating from Jumbo, selling the exhaustion on the irish whip before taking a backdrop, but the tide turns and Jumbo finds himself on the receiving end of some double teams. On the outside, Yatsu's getting his head taped and makes it back just in time to break up a pin attempt in an awesome little moment. He busts open Hansen with a running bulldog on the exposed concrete and gets the hot tag from Jumbo, exacting some revenge on the Texan with plenty of headbutts. He hits another bulldog but Tenryu interferes, giving Yatsu some dirty kicks to the head while he's in there. Jumbo's had it and he starts beating the hell out of Tenryu in the corner and the crowd is lit! Yatsu and Hansen slap it out and Hansen catches him square in the grill with a kick but when Tenryu tries for an assisted enziguri, Yatsu ducks and Hansen gets caught. Jumbo hits a diving high knee but Tenryu's there to break up the cover and gets some cheap shots off on Jumbo. Amid all the chaos, Hansen finally hits his big ole lariat on Yatsu and when Jumbo tries to make the save, Tenryu grabs his trunks, allowing Hansen to score the pinfall. Awesome tag with a super hot final five minutes.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen - AJPW 12/6/89 Real World Tag Finals

Watched this a week or two ago, I was amazed at how good it was. Yatsu's head injury performance gives this workrate-oriented All Japan tag match the hook it needed to keep you invested when sometimes the style/genre can be a little workrate dense/noisy. I didnt write a review at the time but had it at about ~****3/4 in my head and fun fact I dont remember who won! I have an excellent short term memory but the shits for a long-term memory which is why I write such detailed reviews. I am going to watch this back stream of consciousness style and am excited to fall in love all over again:

Yatsu has the amateur wrestling headgear on with strap. If I recall correctly in the other Real World Tag I watched with Yatsu he had that on. I cant remember if I know what happened or not. Yatsu tries to get the crowd revved up. Surprised he is starting based on his injury. Tenryu stalls and Yatsu tags in Jumbo. Jumbo won back the Triple Crown from Tenryu in October. Tenryu says he wants Yatsu and Yastu obliges. Yatsu throws a much of headbutts using the padded helmet and then throws an explosive dropkick. Tenryu tries to fire up and meets more headbutts. He throws him to the Grizzly Hansen. Stan bashes him as Tenryu holds him and Tenryu is left holding his own head after all the headbutts. Yastu escapes to Jumbo. Jumbo and Hansen collide. Jumbo wins the second collision with a High Knee. Jumbo and Hansen get into a wrestling match with Jumbo trying work an armbar on the mat into a half-nelson cover for one. Some really nice selling early from Tenryu and like Yatsu tempting fate as there is a break in the action thought I'd throw in some commentary. They exchange slashing chops as Hansen throws Jumbo into into Tenryu. Tenryu blocks the High Knee as customary and is about to wrangle an inside cradle. Tenryu gets an Enziguiri, but must have been more of a grazing blow as Jumbo throws Tenryu into Yatsu. Yatsu clothesline and Harley Race style falling headbutt. Yatsu attempts a powerbomb. Hansen tags in. Frequent tagging a hallmark of the All Japan tag style. Yatsu gets an enziguiri in the slugfest but Hansen lunges with a shouldertackle and kneelift to the head and it looks like they have finally rattled the injured Yatsu. Spoke too soon as Yatsu evades a double shouldertackle and Tenryu goes ass over tea kettle on the top rope and then railing courtesy of a Jumbo Tsuruta Irish whip. Nice fakeout. Tag into Jumbo. Footloose Jumbo Death Lariat into Tenryu in the corner as Jumbo plays to the crowd and Tenryu slumps into the corner. First five minutes have been hot and mostly Jumbo/Yatsu. Jumbo bulldozes Tenryu with a Thesz Press for two. Tenryu looks to be in peril as they are building momentum on him which is a nice change of pace from the frenetic All Japan style. Knee Sandwich as called by the announcer. Tenryu closed fist stymies Yatsu on Dangerous Back Drop Drive attempt. Yatsu works hard and earns  an overhead belly to belly suplex. Tenryu looks like shit. Hnasen has the wisdom to break it up. Jumbo High Knee and Dangerous Backdrop Driver on Tenryu as Hansen saves again. I forgot they did a compelling Tenryu in peril segment first which I really like. They are really built some momentum. Yatsu butterfly supleZ and kneedrop on Tenryu. Tenryu grapevine trips Yatsu on the belly to belly suplex. Yatsu fall back on his head and is left clutching it! HERE WE GO!

Tenryu tags in Hansen and everything is a VICIOUS BLOW TO the head! It has begun! Hansen is stepping on The head. Jumbo makes the saves as Hansen is stepping on his head in the ropes. The ref breaks it up. Yatsu powders but to no avail as Hansen keeps stomping. HANSEN RIPS OFF THE HEAD GEAR! Another stiff short knee and another, another. It is a merciless onslaught. He tags in Tenryu. Tenyru kicks him in the head. I cant way for the classic Tenryu stomp to the head; no one is better at that. Tenryu follows Hansen's lead it is nothing but knees, fists and boots to the head. Hansen tosses Yatsu's carcass to the floor. He drives Yatsu's head into railing. Jumbo tries to save as Hansen has Yatsu. Hansen pops Jumbo with an elbow. It is a melee. Hansen is a rabid dog with a bone. He wont let go. Yatsu is too close to the ropes. Tenryu tags in and its an Enzgiuiri to the head. THERE IS IS! Tenryu's stomp to the head! This is brutal. Wicked chop from Tenryu the first time it has not been a blow to the head. Tenryu with repeated headbutts to the injured cranium of Yatsu. Brutal. Yatsu deadweights Hansen on the suplex. Hansen says not a bother, and plants him with a DDT. Tenryu blasts Yatsu with a Lariat and then slaps Jumbo off the apron for good measure. He throws a kick at the fallen Jumbo. Double suplex on Yatsu as he looks like he ripe for the pickin'. Yatsu kicks out on his own. I am ready for the hot tag. Hansen slashes Jumbo with a chop. Lets see if we get it. Yatsu trips Hansen but Hansen uses a waistlock to role Yatsu into Tenryu. Tenryu enziguiri. Tenryu bodyslam Reverse Top Rope Elbow MISSES! CMON YATSU! LETS GO! Hansen knedrop. We needed that hope spot. That has reinviogorated me. They trade chops, Hansen and Yatsu. Hansen duoble axehandle stops any Yatsu momentum dead in its tracks. Hansen holds Yatsu as Tenryu chops him. Tenryu wrist control and chops Yatsu and Yatsu ducks and a quick German gets two for Yatsu who can hold it. Yatsu makes the tag! HOT TAG! 

Jumbo ROARS! Jumbo slap barrage! Jumbo Big Boot! Jumbo pops him with an elbow. Jumbo Death Lariat! Hansen has to leapfrog Tenryu's fallen body as Jumbo pops him and then reigns down heavy blows on Tenryu. Hansen saves by crashing down on Jumbo. High Knee to Tenryu sends Tenryu into Hansen for the tag. Jumbo meets him at the pass. Jumbo dropkicks Hansen. Jumbo is a one man wrecking crew! Jumbo abdominal stretch is an interesting choice in what has otherwise been a red hot tag! Yatsu is still of apron as Jumbo gets two. Can Jumbo the Ace win this alone? Hansen is selling like a champ. His jelly leg sell on the Irish whip is amazing. It is like he is melting. It made Jumbo Thesz Press look more authentic. HEY! Thats Rat Boy Watching! Dangerous Back Drop Driver! Tenryu saves. Jumbo might have punched himself out as he is slowing down. Jumbo drags Tenryu in for a big boot. Jumbo leaves himself prone going for a German suplex. HANSEN LARIAT TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! Jumbo & Tenryu both collapse. Jumbo is left clutching him head. It doesnt look good for Olympians as Yatsu is getting his head/jaw taped up. Hansen is beating Jumbo up and Yatsu comes divining for the save. Lets Go Yatsu! Hansen tags in Tenryu as Jumbo is fucked. Hansen bodyslam and Hanse Rocket Launcher! HOW DID I FORGET THAT SPOT! That was insanely awesome! Jumbo kicks out. I remember Yatsu getting his taped how did I forget the rocket launcher. Tenryu blasts Yatsu off the apron. SPIKE PILEDRIVER ON JUMBO! Yatsu saves again! He wont let Jumbo die! Everybody looks like they have been through war. Hansen with these short nasty knees to Jumbo. Jumbo reverse and knees Hansen right in the mush. Hansen on the outside. YATSU BULLDOG ON THE EXPOSED FLOOR! I remember that spot! HELL YEAH! That fucking ruled! Jumbo inside cradle in the ring Tenryu races to save but Hansen kicks out on his own.

Yatsu hot tag! GIVE EM HELL BRUTHA! Yatsu kicks Hansen in the head and then heabdutts the wound. Headbutt Tenryu down. Yatsu headbutts Hanse relentlessly. Fuck Yeah! Yatsu Bulldog! Tenryu saves and kicks Yatsu hard in the head. Jumbo has had enough and SNAPS~! He blizted Tenryu with a brutal elbow barrage. Hansen pummels Yatsu with everything he has. The is insane. Jumbo cuts Tenryu off and back drop off the top. Hansen keeps pummeling Yatsu. Tenryu Enziguiri Hansen when he was holding him. AWESOME MISCOMMUNICATION SPOT! You dont see that often in Japan. Yatsu only gets two! Cmon Yatsu! Jumbo top rope Jumping knee but Tenryu saves. Tenryu SUMO SLAPS Jumbo off. Tenryu ground & pound.

That was one of those awesome, intricate All Japan finish runs. Tenryu holds Hansen to save him from getting Bulldog out of the corner. You can smell The Lariat from a mile away. They do a bunch of fake outs. The best is when Hansen tugs on the elbow pad, the crowd goes wild and Yatsu DROPKICKS him on the attempt. The crowd and me loses our collective shit! I wont do every detail but suffice to say Hansen CLOBBERS Yatsu with the Lariat to win the match and the vacant All Japan World Tag Team Titles. 

Helluva match which I liked even more the second time around. Loved both hot tags, really enjoyed Tenryu's heat segment because it lulls you into a false sense of security that everything is going to be alright for the Olympians. Everything once Yatsu gets bandaged up is pure pro wrestling gold. *****