Hansen started out running around ringside and throwing chairs like a lunatic. Once he entered the ring, Tenryu frustrated him with some nifty stick-and-move, ultimately flooring him with a nasty lariat to the jaw. Hansen then dragged the match to the outside, where they brawled into the crowd. Good lord, this was a brutal match. Hansen could have easily broken Tenryu's jaw or cracked his ribs with some of the shit he landed. Tenryu retaliated by working the lariat arm, but that just led to Hansen working Tenryu's arm even more viciously. When Tenryu finally mounted his true rally, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand for a couple of nearfalls. But he took Hansen out of the ring with a tackle and they ended up brawling into the crowd again, leading to a countout. The ending actually fit the match in this case. Again, what stood out was the sheer, sustained brutality. I think it's another one from their series that has to go on the set.

 

1987 All Japan TV Disc 20

Genichiro Tenryu vs. Stan Hansen, 9/20/87 (TV20)

- Early on, Tenryu dodges and avoids Stan until he pops him with judo slaps and gets a quick pin count. Shit, is Stan actually selling the beating that Tenryu is putting on him? With almost any Hansen match, when the opponent works over the lariat arm, it makes me a happy camper. Shit Tenryu is ripping that arm out of its socket. Stan has to use the other arm for his elbow drops. Good attention to detail. Hell, I have never seen Stan dominated this much… even against freaking Andre the Giant. Stan’s only hope to regain control is to throw Tenryu outside and toss a table on top of him. He does it a 2nd time, injuring Tenryu’s arm on the ringpost. Now Stan is going to town on GT’s arm. Awesome. The stretch run was hot but the non-finish will hurt it on my ballot. However, the match was awesome and the post-match was fun. Gotta love Tenryu slamming Stan in some chairs and then sitting down to take a breather.

PWF Heavyweight Title vs. NWA United National Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Genichiro Tenryu © (9/20/87)

 

Hansen is nuts to start the match just pounding on Tenryu throwing chairs around as well as smashing him with one before just pounding him with fists and kicks in the ring. Tenryu would fight back with stiff shots of his own so we have a nice war early in the match. Hansen would get his lariat arm worked over of course which seems like a prerequisite in his big matches but Tenryu really took it to him here. Hansen would come firing back though as he sent him to the floor and threw the ringside table on top of him which was great. The back and forth war would continue with both men just taking it to each other and even Joe Higuchi who was caught in the crossfire. Tenryu would eventually bullrush Hansen to the floor where they would brawl over the railing and get counted out. Crappy finish as usual but this match was full of great violence and this is a easy nomination.