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Post by LWPD on Mar 11, 2013 18:47:28 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshi Yatsu vs Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada 2/23/89
This look back at All Japan 1989 continues. At age 39, Genichiro Tenryu had stood in the shadow of Jumbo Tsuruta for the better part of the past 12 years. By this point, both in the ring and behind the scenes, he was no longer content to play second fiddle. Here he teams with a leopard print adorned Toshiaki Kawada (age 25 with 6 years ring time) against The Olympians. Jumbo (age 37 with just under 16 years of ring time) had been on top for so long that there was a 'tired of the incumbent' vibe among members of the audience. Yet the old man wasn't willing to roll over and give his spot up to anyone. This would lead to an amazing series of matches between these two top guns, with this serving as a prelude. An excellent tag match, with Yatsu bringing his A game, and a surly JT putting a young Dangerous K through the wringer. In later years Kawada would be critiqued as a high level technician who was on the 'stiff' side. That trait was influenced from learning a keen respect for the art of working credibly from the men who surrounded him here, three of the best of the best.
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Post by LWPD on Mar 12, 2013 18:44:56 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta, Yoshi Yatsu & George Takano vs Genichiro Tenryu & The Road Warriors 3/8/89
The All Japan 1989 review series continues with a match for the NWA (JCP) World Six Man Titles. The Olympians (JT & Yatsu) add a third man to their unit in the form of George Takano (age 30, 12 years of ring time). They face the leader of the revolution, Genichiro Tenryu, and his touring partners, The Road Warriors (a full time unit six years strong). Watch as the always adept Takano pulls out all the stops at the 17 minute mark, leading into the finish. LOD are seen at their physical and commercial peak, and were definitely over with the crowd at the Budokan. Even in short spurts, you can see evidence that at this stage Hawk, with his charisma and explosiveness, was capable of being a potential force in singles competition, but it never happened (and business wise, this was probably for the best). RIP
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Post by LWPD on Mar 13, 2013 19:13:52 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta vs Stan Hansen 4/18/89
The All Japan 1989 review series continues. International Champion Jumbo Tsuruta takes on PWF and United National Champion Stan Hansen (age 39, 16 year veteran) in a unification match. The King's Road style set a very high bar, and while this wasn't among the best matches these two have ever had, it is sort of a must viewing as it carries historical significance. Witness the birth of the Triple Crown lineage!
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Post by LWPD on Mar 14, 2013 19:02:24 GMT -5
Ricky Steamboat vs Tiger Mask II 3/8/89
The review of All Japan 1989 continues. Ricky Steamboat (age 36, 13 years ring time) is seen on tour of AJPW shortly after having won the NWA World Title from Ric Flair. Whether he was working for Baba or Inoki, Steamer was always popular with the Japanese crowds, and it was somewhat fitting that he would be the last man to defend the old belt on Baba's turf. The role of Tiger Mask II was played by Mitsuhara Misawa (age 26, 7 years of ring time). Baba had purchased the rights to the popular Tiger Mask gimmick in 1984, and as a bright prospect, Misawa was hand picked to bring the character back to life. His nearly six year tenure under the mask lasted until the late spring of 1990, when he was finally elevated for good under his given name.
This is an interesting look at Misawa working the gimmick shortly before he would get his big break. It's funny how life can work out, had Tenryu not defected from AJPW the next year and left a gaping hole in the main event scene, only the shadow knows how long Misawa would have been relegated to a novelty act, wearing the mask and standing outside of TRUE headliner status. RIP
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Post by LWPD on Mar 15, 2013 19:09:02 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu 4/20/89
One of the big ones from All Japan 1989. For the first time ever, AJPW Triple Crown Champion Jumbo Tsuruta defends his title against his arch rival Genichiro Tenryu. An all out war, very physical with a controversial ending. Did JT go into business for himself? Was this the planned finish, or simply the result of a botched move? Decide for yourself.
A note on the evolution of 'head drop' moves in All Japan. Putting aside whether or not Tsuruta and Tenryu worked to a planned or improvised finish, as the next generation of talent took over the main event scene, moves in AJPW with bumps that impacted the back of the head and neck would become much more frequent. There was a tendency for traditionally staple/safer flat back bump moves to be sold with less veracity, as more dangerous sheerdrop bumps took their place. Not only did more dangerous 'concussion tempting' moves become more common place, but the style of wrestling increasingly downplayed the effects of even these evolved moves, leading to an escalation in how many times they were applied per match, and how far the bar was raised in finding new applications along the same lines. A look back years later at the poor health of so many great AJPW performers from this time frame, is a reminder that even the best of in ring styles, can unintentionally develop very negative habits.
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Post by LWPD on Mar 16, 2013 17:44:39 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu 6/5/89
This was the big return bout from the 4/20 show. Triple Crown Champion Jumbo Tsuruta defends against Genichiro Tenryu. Perennial top challenger Stan Hansen is stationed at ringside. Electric atmosphere with an audible pro GT bias in the crowd. These two legends tell a great story, with a payoff that was years in the making. Post match Jumbo extends his hand, but Tenryu refuses to shake it. What goes around, comes around. Decades removed from having watched all the top action from the 80s, this still stands out as a strong Match of the Decade candidate. One of those bouts every serious fan of puro history should watch at least once.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2013 20:59:05 GMT -5
Jumbo Tsuruta vs Genichiro Tenryu 6/5/89 This was the big return bout from the 4/20 show. Triple Crown Champion Jumbo Tsuruta defends against Genichiro Tenryu. Perennial top challenger Stan Hansen is stationed at ringside. Electric atmosphere with an audible pro GT bias in the crowd. These two legends tell a great story, with a payoff that was years in the making. Post match Jumbo extends his hand, but Tenryu refuses to shake it. What goes around, comes around. Decades removed from having watched all the top action from the 80s, this still stands out as a strong Match of the Decade candidate. One of those bouts every serious fan of puro history should watch at least once. This is my favorite 80s All Japan match (actually probably my favorite match from Japan in the 80s as a whole except Andre/Hansen from New Japan) and probably my favorite match from Jumbo or Tenryu. |
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Post by LWPD on Mar 18, 2013 18:35:56 GMT -5
Kenta Kobashi vs Toshiaki Kawada 7/1/89
A look at two young men who would go on to become legends. At 22 years old, Kenta Kobashi is seen with just slightly over a year experience. Kawada (age 25, just under 7 years of ring time) was already on the glide path to bigger things, serving as a part of Tenryu's Revolutionary Army and one half of the impressive Footloose tag team. Watch what these two could do during a formative stage.
With the stars aligning and hindsight being 20/20, the way Baba booked Kobashi is a study on how to strategically invest in a promising young talent, with a long term payoff in mind. Upon his debut in 1988, KK was presented as a a never say die underdog, who mastered the art of selling while still being given enough offensive hope spots to shine. The key was, throughout his rookie year he always came up short. For over 60 well worked matches, announcers would put over his efforts to break the losing streak in a way that worked out better for his development than if he was booked to parity with other low carders who were trading wins and loses. When he did finally start to win, it came off as a big deal, allowing him to segue into the tag scene and slowly mix with 'name' talent in the next stage of his evolution up the card. It didn't come overnight, but in time he would emerge into a full scale headliner and big money draw, a man who was legitimately respected for having truly rose from the bottom up!
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Post by LWPD on Mar 19, 2013 19:06:28 GMT -5
Danny Spivey vs Sting 6/5/89
This was from All Japan's Super Power Series, a tale of two touring gajins. Danny Spivey (age 36, just 5 years of ring time) was an imposing figure who over multiple tours adapted well to the King's Road style. Sting is seen at age 30, just shy of four years in the business. While the Stinger was super over with the crowd, the difficulties Baba had faced in working with WCW to bring him over may have played a factor in the surprising way that the finish was booked. In his later tours of Japan with the Inoki office, he would be much better protected.
On a side note, I feel that Spivey underachieved relative to his talent level. I wonder how different his career would have been had he broke in a decade earlier and possessed genetics and charisma similar to Sid. For better or worse, Waylon Mercy probably never would have happened.
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Post by LWPD on Mar 20, 2013 19:21:37 GMT -5
Masanobu Fuchi vs Joe Malenko 1/29/89
This was for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title. As long time champion and established ace of the division, Masa Fuchi is seen at age 35, a 14 year veteran. In context, Fuchi was a high level/consistently reliable performer, which made him a decided favorite of the Baba office. From '86-96 he held the Jr.belt on five separate occasions, including a two year run and a three and a half year reign. Challenger Joe Malenko (age 33, 12 years of ring time) was a second generation star, the son of Boris Malenko and brother of Dean. Here he puts on a clinic, with very slick mat work and suplexes that reveal he was every bit the technician his better known brother was. A worthwhile viewing!
If I ever put together a Baba Era/All Japan Tribute set with artwork by Werner, these two would definitely be part of the mix!
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