[1998-10-05-BattlARTS] Greg Valentine vs Hisakatsu Oya

[Ma Stump Puller]

Greg Valentine working in Battlarts sounds like a weird TEW save but no, this did actually happen in a actual match that did, in fact, happen. I guess Backlund (who was currently having a career-high run in the company) threw a good word out there about the guy. Now sadly this isn't the birth of shootstyle Valentine as he mostly just works this like a regular match but fair credit to the guy; he makes Oya look like a million bucks, especially with the overdramatic selling of his Inoki-style Enzuigiri. Valentine gets his control spot in the middle with some nasty clubs to the chest and pulling on Oya's face through the ropes. Dude just hurls Oya around here with a big Butterfly Suplex and his complete dismissal of Oya's Enzuigiri attempt by just throwing him to the mat for a sharp elbow drop was cool and definitely stood out compared to the tricky technical house-style we usually see in action. Valentine gets on the figure four but Oya manages to escape for the ropes, later attempt for a second one sends him crashing into the ropes and into the turnbuckle, which stuns him bad. Oya tries to take advantage with wild chops and a backdrop attempt, but Valentine ducks down mid-run and hits him flush with a back elbow instead, which gets a great reaction from the crowd.

He follows up with some nasty stiff chops before a suplex is countered into a shock Cobra Twist cradle by Oya for the win! Bati-bati was definitely not on the menu here, instead having Valentine drag this into a more conventional 80's style match with a slower pace and focus on Valentine being the usual mean heel. He can still fairly go, however, and the crowd seemed to really appreciate what he was throwing out here given he was getting good reactions. Oya got in his few bits here and there as the underdog and his comebacks were convincing in terms of how desperate he made them feel, especially the roll-up ending. Either way, surprisingly fun and probably one of the last properly good Greg Valentine performances.