Posted August 10, 201015 yr comment_5454280 Tenryu gave Taue the full rite-of-passage beating, complete with chops to the face, reckless lariats and kicks to the spine. But Misawa really gave it back, laying in all of his kicks and hitting Hara with a swank springboard headbutt off the guard rail. He even set Taue up for a nearfall on Tenryu before Tenryu regained his bearings and submitted the youngster. Fun match and we don't have any Taue, so I'll give it a basement-level nomination in the interest of casting a wide net. 1988 All Japan TV Disc 14
October 13, 201014 yr comment_5457170 Revolution (Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu) vs. Tiger Mask II & Akira Taue (7/2/88) Taue gets in with the big dogs so this should be fun and when he tags in MY GOD does he take a beating. Revolution just pounds the fuck out of Taue and they looked like they were getting off on it. Taue shows tons of fighting spirit during this destruction before tagging in TM who fires some serious kicks on Hara then goes toe to toe with Tenryu before sending him to the floor where he caught him with a springboard plancha. Taue would come back in for more punishment and I could watch this all day long but again he fought hard before bringing TM back in who yet again was throwing some great kicks on Hara including an awesome missile dropkick off the top rope. TM would miss another springboard plancha to the floor though but as Hara threw him into the railing, TM jumped on the railing and hit the Rayo de Jalisco Jr. special backwards headbutt which was a cool spot. TM & Tenryu then had a nice exchange leading to Taue getting a nearfall on Tenryu but he would end up being submitted. Hansen would show up after the match to attack everyone which was fun. I really dig these type of matches with the rookies and this one was a blast to watch young Taue trying to fight Revolution and getting killed. This should be a nomination.
October 20, 201014 yr comment_5457457 Genichiro Tenryu/Ashura Hara vs. Tiger Mask/Akira Taue, 7/2/88 (TV 14) - Wow, Taue looks so young. This almost feels like an initiation. I like how Taue keeps finding ways to try to counter the vets even though they are punishing him so much. Each tiny counter leads to the backdrop counter allowing him to get the tag. TM gets in some nice offense before tagging Taue back in. Big mistake because Taue is getting destroyed but you can tell why he has lasted so long because he has the tenacity to keep getting his ass beat and fight back. I like how Hara is not so strong a second he allows for the youngsters to take control such as TM leaping off the guardrail and nailing the back elbow. Technically, this wasn’t one of the better matches but with Taue getting destroyed and Hara showing enough vulnerability that you think the young guys might pull it off, I think this is one of those matches that may be more memorable. Solid ten minute nomination but not a lock.
