paul sosnowski Posted June 25, 2017 Report Share Posted June 25, 2017 This is from the Olympic Auditorium in LA. It's for the NWA International Tag Team Titles, which the Funks have held since December 7, when they defeated Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki in Sapporo. It's the earliest footage I have ever seen of Terry Funk, he's about a month away from his 28th birthday, and definitely has to be the first time I've seen the Funks as a team, AND it's a complete match The Funks do an interview at ringside for Japan TV. Dory says "We respect them, but we just beat them last night in Amarillo". Terry says "They have come a long way just to be disappointed." Very mellow interview from the Funks. Terry starts the match, getting in Baba's face, but then quickly tags out to Dory. Sakaguchi comes in, takes Dory to the mat with headlocks. Baba, at age 34 is moving around quickly, but Dory takes him down with a drop toehold. Terry drops knees on Baba's injured leg, twisting it repeatedly. Dory off the second rope, drops a huge knee into a spinning toehold. Terry drops backwards with it. Sakaguchi gets the tag, Funks work on his leg as well. Great punches to the gut by Dory, Saka fires back with chops. Terry hits a legdrop on Baba, but misses the 2nd one. Sakaguchi flips Terry over the post into the corner. Baba hits a big boot to the face, drags around both Funks with a standing headlock. Dory with more great uppercuts. Baba gets a sleeper on Dory. Terry hits a backbreaker on Sakaguchi over the knee, then hits another for the pin at 15:22. Second fall begins with Terry hammering Sakaguchi's back. Dory hits 3 uppercuts, stomping his back as well. Baba gets the tag. Flips Dory in the corner and whips Terry into his brother. Baba takes down Terry with a nasty looking hammerlock. Terry gets whipped into the corner again, but walks it off and makes the tag. Baba wrenches on Dory's arm and brings in Sakaguchi. Chops and uppercuts all around. Double team big boot on Terry. Sakaguchi hits the longest atomic drop on Terry for the pin at 14:20. Third fall, Sakaguchi tosses Terry over the top rope. Terry argues with the referee that it should be a DQ and wants his hand raised, but the ref denies the win. Terry goes to the floor, Dory whips Sakaguchi out for a double team on the outside. Dory drops some hammering elbows on Saka's back. Slam his head into the mat. Baba tries to save. Back in the ring, Dory gets Saka in an abdominal stretch, Baba runs in with some chops. Funks hit a double team, double underhook suplex on Sakaguchi, Funks hammer double elbows to Saka's chest. Dory goes for the pin, but is too close to their corner. Baba makes the tag and comes out the top rope with a big kneedrop on Dory for the victory at 4:20!!! TITLE CHANGE!!!! Terry protests with the referee and argues and challengers ringsiders to come and get him. Baba and Sakaguchi strap on the belts and do an interview for Japan TV. Some parts of this match were a little slow for my taste, but I will give it 4****. The finish was pretty great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPS Posted June 26, 2017 Report Share Posted June 26, 2017 Nice review, where did you find a match like this if you don't mind me asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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