[2001-10-27-AJPW] Genichiro Tenryu vs Taiyo Kea

[Superstar Sleeze]

Genichiro Tenryu vs Taiyo Kea - AJPW 10/27/01

Mrs. Baba is out for the third match in this trilogy. Tenryu defeated Kea twice this year in a Triple Crown defense and a Champions Carnival match. This is on the undercard of the Anniversary Show Budokan match which Mutoh/Chono headlined. Kea also lost tag belts with Johnny Smith to Tenryu & Anjoh. BUT Kea upgraded his partner to Keiji Mutoh and on their second try defeated Tenryu & Anjoh for the tag belts 5 days prior so Kea has a little momentum going into this match. Also interesting is that Tenryu is still billed as representing WAR and with Mutoh still representing New Japan, 2/3rds of All Japan’s main eventers are not All Japan.

Just like the other Tenryu/Kea 2001 matches this is clipped but this one is only missing the first 3 minutes of an 11 minute match. 
 

These two have great chemistry together and I thought this was another great match. I still prefer Kojima and Tenzan to Kea but it is not due to technical proficiency but rather a lack of charisma. 

We JIP to Tenryu’s trick knee acting up causing him to ballshot Kea! Helluva way to start the match! Tenryu lays a pretty good beat down on Kea with a Brainbuster and a great whip into the railing. I like how the announcers stop him from using their table. The usual combination of meaty punches and lariats from Tenryu. Transition to Kea is he gets his feet up on a charging Tenryu and then a top rope dropkick. 
 

Strike exchanges between Tenryu and Kea are sick! This is how you do it folks! The punches by both are absolutely sick. We all know Tenryu throws a great potato but I was really impressed by Kea’s. Kea finally throws some of his characteristically great kicks. That back heel kick to the head of a standing Tenryu is sick! He has Tenryu reeling. Tenryu tries to get a water bottle to throw like a grenade but Kea blasts him with a kick and then Kea beats up the Young Boy who gave it to Tenryu! Fuck Yeah! This is the shit that elevates a match. Kea tees off on Tenryu with three perfectly placed kicks to the head. How this match has differed from the last two is there no Mutoh-style knee-based offense. It is all head rocking strikes. He goes up top which fucked him over at the Champions Carnival and that happens here as well but in epic fashion.

TENRYU RED MIST~! On the Flying Kea! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB! Fuck yeah!

Id love to see the first three minutes because this rocked. Like I said different than the first two. There is a lot more urgency here. Tenryu knows Kea is getting close and really tries to pour it on. Kea abandons the Mutoh’s approach and just goes for caving Tenryu’s head in. Kea looked like he was on the brink of victory before Tenryu pulled out a crazy trick from his playbook. Loved this! ****