Real World Tag League: Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy & Stan "The Lariat" Hansen vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (11/26/87)

 

This had some good back and forth action featuring the Hansen/Jumbo formula of working the arm. I loved Jumbo's lariat on Gordy after getting out of his piledriver attempt. Jumbo takes a lot of punishment here but the crowd is near silent as he makes the tag to Yatsu who comes in cleaning house before getting the Prison Lock on Hansen although Gordy breaks it up before getting it on again. Jumbo holds Gordy at bay as Hansen tries his best to get free crying out in pain. Jumbo would just nail Gordy with a backdrop driver as he tried to break it up but Hansen would finally get in the ropes to get free. Yatsu would then come running but Hansen nailed with a lariat standing on one fucking leg and that was awesome. Yatsu rolled to the floor with Jumbo rooting him on to get back in the ring but not helping him back in which was ridiculous as Joe Higuchi would count him out. The finishing run put this over the top for me as the match was on the border before that so I think this is a nomination.

Hansen and Gordy spent a chunk of time working on Jumbo's back, but that really didn't go anywhere. Instead, we moved to a section of work on Hansen's leg. He did a great job of selling for Yatsu's modified figure four. And then he hit one of those sudden, game changing lariats. Instead of building on that, however, Yatsu rolled outside and took a countout. Disappointing match overall.

Terry Gordy & Stan Hansen vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu, 11/26/87 (AJ Classics 159)

- Gaijin immediately start by neutralizing Jumbo’s arm. Good solid, if nondescript work. Nothing really nasty but Hansen keeps it interesting. When Yatsu enters the match, they don’t focus on a body part, they just kick his ass. Awesome spot where both natives grab Hansen’s arms and do a double arm wringer. The natives continue the good teamwork on Stan and Stan actually looks vulnerable for a few minutes while Jumbo wisely controls the arm. Good strategy by the gaijiin to hurt Jumbo outside of the ring to regain the advantage inside. Because of their teamwork, thye maintain the advantage even when Yatsu tried an axehandle on Hansen, who simply tagged out to Terry. When it looks like the natives are on the comeback… throw Jumbo outside again. Good stuff! Late in the match, Hansen shows vulnerability after missing a big knee in the corner so Yatsu attacks the leg with kicks and even a Figure-4. Damn, Hansen is in outright danger! After he reaches the ropes, he makes it to his feet and hits an AWESOME desperation lariat that sends Yatsu to the floor. I don’t like the ending but Hansen wins by survival and the vulnerability he showed with the leg gives the appearance that he got lucky this time around. Easy nomination where I stand.