Genichiro Tenyru & Ashura Hara vs. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy (14:53, CO, 3/5/88)

 

This starts fucking awesome with a great Gordy/Hara exchange, then Gordy punching Tenryu and Tenryu chopping back. Gordy and Hansen start beating the shit out of Tenryu. Hansen makes a simple chinlock look like the most violent submission I’ve ever seen. Gordy and Hansen keep controlling both for a while, and Hara gets and awesome comeback and starts staggering Gordy with his super rad uppercuts. Buuuuut Hansen cuts off the comeback and Gordy goes right back to beating him down. Hara finally tags out and Tenryu gets the duke on Gordy, but for some reason tags Hara back in and he gets beaten down again! But one desperation uppercut later and the tides turn, allowing Tenryu to make it in and the two of them to lace into Gordy/Hansen with double team moves. The action spills to the floor, and Hansen does a fucking TOPE into the other three! Oh shit! Hansen goes nuts on the outside and throws a chair right at the camera man (awesome effect, as it looks like he’s throwing it right into your living room). More chairs get thrown, Hansen runs after people, and I love it. NOMINATE!

 

Will, I cannot see what you didn't like about this. It wasn't perfect, but people would love this. Hansen's a huge dick in this, and the fucking tope and chair throwing is worth the price of admission.

 

AJC 164

I'll rewatch this because I shit on Jumbo-Misawa MAsk as well from the same disc. Howeevr, I really enjoyed the TNT tag from the same disc. With that said, I have converted a shitload of All Japan to my computer the last few days trying to get a jumpstart on the project. There are going to be a TON of tags on this set and if this match is better than any of the tags I have converted so far, I'll have no problem changing my mind.

This started as an excellent, physical match, with Hansen and Gordy really pummeling the natives and Hara keeping things competitive with his awesome, uppercut-fueled rallies. But the stretch after Tenryu knocked Hansen loopy with an enzuigiri was off-the-charts awesome. Hansen awoke in full rampage mode, diving through the ropes and then over the rail to get at Tenryu. I'm not sure I've seen someone hurl chairs directly at the camera like that; he seemed genuinely unhinged. Originally, I thought this "potato incident" might go on only as an extra, but the match leading up to it was absolutely good enough to pull a nomination. I bet this will do well in the final poll. It was certainly a memorable happening from the decade.

Revolution (Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu) vs. Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy & Stan "The Lariat" Hansen (3/5/88)

 

This is like their RWTL match as it starts off with both teams taking it to each other with the gaijin working over Revolution for a good chunk of the match with them getting some hope spots but double teams keeping them at a disadvantage. The gaijin are on a rampage here as it seems like Revolution is about to start a big offensive barrage but somehow they get thwarted until finally they hit a double lariat then a great looking double enzuigiri with Tenryu crushing Hansen's face in and he sells like he has been KOed. Gordy then fights off Revolution on the floor as Hansen finally wakes up and hits a TOPE SUICIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on Tenryu and just beats the holy hell out of him on the floor with chairs. Hansen has lost it swinging chairs wildly as well as slapping the shit out of him. The bell finally rings as Hansen gets the ringside table and throws it over the rail then goes for his bullrope where he runs people off. This was fuckin crazy and I don't think this is a nomination since Revolution did nothing but take punishment for at least 95% of the match but everything after the double enzuigiri is must see TV. Hansen then yells out to the announcers "YOU THINK YOU CAN POTATO ME" and walks off. Slam dunk extra material and this has to be on the set.

OK, it will be on the set but with me and you both casting doubt, I think putting it in the DOUBT section is fair. I'll put the Special Consideration Arrow next to it though when looking at the final list.

You guys are crazy. This has to go on the voting part of the set. It's the definition of memorable.

It was a glorified squash till the end of the match.

I didn't see it that way. Hansen was usually the dominant guy in his matches, but I remember Hara and Tenryu getting enough stuff in to keep this one interesting. I'll rewatch it when it's time to decide on personal picks.