[1971-08-05-JWA] Antonio Inoki vs Jack Brisco

[Microstatistics]

Inoki was ok here but Brisco pretty much drags him to a great match when his selling, intensity and attention to detail. One of the finest individual performances I've seen in a match. The matwork in the initial few minutes was mindblowing and felt like the precursor to shoot-style in some ways. ****

[superkix]

The intensity that these two go at it on the mat, the fervid energy, the way Brisco throws his body into a hold – this is exciting stuff. Brisco brings such a refreshing dynamism to this match. During the first fall, he goes after Inoki’s leg with some vicious stomps, forcing Inoki to reevaluate on the outside. Brisco hits a beautiful deadlift double arm suplex for a two count and out of frustration, he starts pounding Inoki’s head into the turnbuckle. After getting himself tangled in the ropes after Inoki’s attack, Brisco is able to counter the cobra twist with a lateral press for the first fall. Things slow down a bit during the second fall, as Inoki works the arm, utilizing a rolling armbar before firing off the sudden German suplex hold to tie it up. Brisco’s selling the effect of that German suplex was fantastic and Inoki takes advantage of it, dominating him throughout the third fall before submitting Brisco with the cobra twist to claim his victory. Real good stuff.

[Jetlag]

Some really great, hard fought action in this contest. Brisco's style is much more urgent than that of his peers, as he's always pushing the action and will put much more emphasis on selling holds. Really dug the quasi-amateur style matwork in the opening of this. Some great indian deathlock work from Inoki. In the following, there was lots of top notch scrambling to avoid specific moves and Brisco using his fists to punch his way out of a predicament a few times. I like Inoki, but his decision to randomly go into a short arm scissor in the middle of the 2^nd fall was a little boneheaded. Thankfully Brisco did as much as he could to make that move interesting and the rest of the 2^nd fall was strong. I thought the 3^rd fall could've delivered something bigger even though Brisco's selling was world class. You see the „champ sells his butt off to signify match may be about over“ trope so much you actually end up surprised when it really signifies the end.

[Superstar Sleeze]

NWA United National Champion Antonio Inoki vs Jack Brisco - JWA 8/5/71

First Fall: The first fall was absolute, pure genius. I'm floored. This was the best possible catch grappling I could imagine. When I watch the Ishikawa or Fujiwara Do this stuff enjoy it was as a tricked out exhibition. This was mind blowing but the struggle was real. Everything was so sudden. So organic. So fucking pure. The tone was set right away Inoki grabs a quick single leg pickup and Brisco applies an amazing body scissors that leads to a pinning predicament. Inoki's waistlock rolls by holding the Indian Deathlock was nifty. Inoki's bridge was insane. Inoki got the advantage first with a deep chinlock. Brisco threw him off with a great arm drag and Inoki pounced right back. I loved Brisco's response to get chippy and threw some hands. This gives him the opening to go for the leg. Knee Crusher! Amazing leg work! Sublime! Great figure-4 attempt. Loved Inoki getting desperate for the Octopus Stretch. Brisco heels a little by not always breaking on the ropes. Good shit. Nice Butterfly Suplex! Loved loved loved the sudden Boston Crab and then Brisco's sell and BOOM Inoki dropkick to the mush. Brisco ends up caught in the ropes instead of his head like Foley or arms like Andre it is his waist! Never seen that! There's at least three things I've never seen before and this match is from 1971! I loved the finish! Inoki goes for his kill shot the Octopus Stretch and Brisco Bucks him off quickly and pins him to win the first fall. That fall was ***** fucking stars. I didn't know it was 2 out of 3 falls so I popped and popped again knowing I was getting more!

Second Fall: Classic short second fall that picks up right where these two badasses left off. Brisco looks poised to blow Inoki out. Inoki's morale is low and Brisco hits a big knee lift and controls the head. Inoki claws his way back he is looking for a butterfly Suplex but can't quite manage. He does apply  his trademark short-arm scissors which is a great idea. He was getting his ass kicked and he  needed a hold he could rely on that could cause damage to Brisco and let Inoki catch his breath. Genius move to quell the Brisco's momentum, Brisco's selling is top notch. We get the rolling short arm scissors, Brisco slapping his hand from going numb, the roll up with the tights ref pulls Brisco back down and Brisco in a fit of rage flails his legs at the ref. Genius! Brisco breaks it on the next  roll up with knees. Great Irish Whips by Brisco...Sunset Flip...1...2...No! Brisco throws punches but Inoki gets behind textbook German with a bridge to take the second fall. An absolute clinic and Brisco is wrestling out of his mind! 

Third Fall: The rout is on! Inoki beats Brisco pillar to post. Great dejected selling by Brisco. The Octopus Stretch puts him out of his misery.

The first fall is exquisite. It is the most amazing grappling I have ever seen. I actually liked the ending. It felt definitive, earned and realistic. Inoki made a comeback that was not too unrealistic. He injured the arm and hit a great German to go in with the momentum into 3rd. I liked the idea of the rout Inoki had all the momentum and hit cruised for the win. Easy ***** 'match and Top 100 match what keeps it from #1 is I would have liked a cooler turning point in the 2nd fall. If Brisco makes a big mistake that squandered his 1-0 lead or Inoki lands a big desperation shot, that would elevate this match to a #1 contender. Genius match. *****

[Microstatistics]

On 2/24/2017 at 12:23 AM, Microstatistics said:

Inoki was ok here but Brisco pretty much drags him to a great match when his selling, intensity and attention to detail. One of the finest individual performances I've seen in a match. The matwork in the initial few minutes was mindblowing and felt like the precursor to shoot-style in some ways. ****

What a difference four years make. I was more impressed with Inoki than Brisco this time around. Brisco was still world-class with his aggression and attentive selling but Inoki's wrestling skill and composure allowed him to shine. 1971 MOTY. ****1/4

[Clayton Jones]

I'll let the pendulum swing back in the other direction, I thought Brisco worked circles around Inoki in this match. Great for certain but it was mainly because Jack wouldn't allow a dull moment, scrapping and selling every time he was on defense and dynamic every time he was on offense. Inoki brought his slick transitions but not much else, and his refusal to sell made the psychology of the 2nd and 3rd fall feel less earned and more convenient. Despite that I'd still say this is an essential match and utterly mind blowing for 1971.

[Brian Elliott]

It's a good match. I love the minimal BS approach, and that this comes off like a fine contest. That said, Brisco tries to work some entertainment in, rather than give Inoki nothing in the way you'd expect if Inoki was really trying to take him off his feet. I watched and thought, "Inoki could never get Brisco down that easily if Jack wasn't trying to do the right thing."  Not unusually, Inoki is more interested in looking skilled than he is in having a good match,

At 30 minutes the match isn't absurdly long, but there's a lot of matwork and I'd certainly have preferred more action to stem from the grappling. My rating really reflects how I felt about the presentation as a whole. ***