[1994-01-14-WAR] Hiromichi Fuyuki vs John Tenta

[Ma Stump Puller]

BEEF. It's a four letter word, but it means so much more when you have these two in the ring stomping around and really setting the tension right off the bat between two fairly big dudes. The match is worked classic WWF Earthquake style as Tenta is the huge target that just won't go down for anything, so Fuyuki has to scratch and claw for everything, even a basic ass snapmare has him just wrenching Tenta over as much as possible just to try to get him into position. Tenta takes his usual signature bump over the ropes to the outside and Fuyuki adds to this with a clean leaping crossbody off the apron. Despite all of this though alongside a really well-done scoop slam Tenta is still firmly in control as he works the back with some big slams and drops; he firmly sets the pace and showcases that Fuyuki will have to do way more than usual to clinch the win. He misses a second rope splash and Fuyuki works another comeback with some quality closed-fist punches, but gets shut down again. Really liked them building up the big charges and bumps as Fuyuki kept having to keep throwing all sorts of frantic stuff out just so he could get a basic back suplex on the guy, so it becomes more of a speed/power dynamic as per standard.

Despite tons of really stiff lariats and Tenta bumping like crazy, eventually Tenta gets the pin with a chokebomb, elbow drop, running Baba-style neckbreaker and Earthquake Splash for the clean three count. This was a solid and compact big/small man dynamic, with Tenta bumping like a trooper to get his opponent over well. Fuyuki in turn was fairly good as the underdog, consistently fighting from under to get that one big shot in to try to steal the win, and the crowd really got behind him as time went on. His lariats were great as well and looked real convincing even against someone who dwarfs him by a fair mile. Really good for what it was, if Tenta had a few more years hanging around in WAR and having really quality showings like this I'd easily stick him in a GWE top 100, no question: him vs Tenryu/Kitahara/basically half of the roster would've kicked ass.