For the first half of the match, Tenryu controlled Dibiase with arm holds, going back to the limb to cut Ted off every time he tried to brawl. Good slow-build opening with the arm stuff generally looking tight and serving a purpose. They opened things up in the second half, going back-and-forth with strikes and a bunch of high-impact offense. I guess one could argue that it was too back-and-forth, with neither guy executing a real plan of attack. But I enjoyed watching Tenryu empty his arsenal. I always mark out when he does a tope. The finish, with Ted unable to beat the count after eating a nasty suplex on the floor, fit the match. Solid nomination.

 

G+ Classics 64

Ted Dibiase vs. Genichiro Tenryu, 10/23/83 (G+ 64)

- Dibiase is sporting an Italian Stallion robe. Wow! Initially, I thought the arm work was a little boring until I saw Tenryu twist Dibiase into a pretzel trying to get the pin while still hooking the hand under the back. Painful. While slow, it feels really intense. If Dibiase drags his limp arm across the amt, stone cold lock. Don’t think it is going to happen though. Smart move by Dibiase to throw Tenryu out of the ring so he ca get some felling back into the arm. Bonus points. I really like how Tenryu just goes right back to the arm, mixing in enough highspots or action moments to keep it moving. After every move, Dibiase is shaking the arm and after a Dibiase flurry, it is Tenryu’s turn to throw Ted out of the ring followed by a dive. Good stretch run with Dibiase still shaking that arm. Oh man, Tenryu looks like he is going for the piledriver but drops it into an arm breaker. Whoa. After a piledriver to the floor, Dibiase thought he had it won but Tenryu climbs back in. Tenryu gives him a receipt shortly after with a backdrop on the floor but Tenryu couldn’t beat the count in. Man, the ending was soft but to be expected for the time but this may be Dibiase’s best non-brawl match. This is the type of match I will have ranked way higher than everyone else. STRONG NOMINATION.

NWA United National Heavyweight Title: Ted DiBiase © vs. Genichiro Tenryu (10/23/83)

 

This is Tenryu's big breakout match proving that he is ready for the big time. Tenryu works over DiBiase's left arm serious early in the match but DiBiase would fight back eventually although it wasn't enough as the pesky Tenryu would regain control of the arm. DiBiase finally broke through though and even hit a Babaesque neckbreaker drop for a nearfall which led to some really good exchanges with both men just trading stuff like Tenryu hitting a nice tope suicida on DiBiase on the floor after DiBiase caught him with a powerslam but the best part about it all was that DiBiase was selling the arm the entire time. I fucking loved Tenryu's shoulderbreaker leading to the manjigatame as he was just ruthless working over DiBiase's left shoulder. The battle would go to the floor where DiBiase hit a piledriver on Tenryu on the floor but Tenryu went back in the ring and hit an enzuigiri on DiBiase sending him rolling to the floor. Tenryu would hit a backdrop suplex on the floor as Korakuen erupted and beat the count back in the ring to win the title. This was a damn solid match and a easy nomination.