Posted October 2, 201014 yr comment_5456545 Despite the disc title, I think these matches were from Aug. 1981. Baba/Jumbo/Dos Caras vs. Chavo Guerrero/Dr. Wagner/?? - JIP at the 11-minute mark. What made tape was mostly Caras vs. Dr. Wagner, which was neat but not as good as their singles match from G+ Classics. Wagner also made me smile with a series of straight rights to Baba's chest (not sure he could've reached his chin.) Ricky Steamboat vs. Mil Mascaras (2/3 falls) - They worked the first fall almost entirely on the mat. They didn't go super-fast or really try for submissions but I still found it absorbing. Instead of just going back to a headlock over and over, Steamboat went through a logical progression of counters, and everything flowed well. Mascaras took the fall with a cross body off the top. They went back to the holds to start the second, with Mascaras using a full nelson to punish Steamboat and Steamboat countering into an arm-wringer. Mascaras escaped and went to the highspot well again with a springboard cross-body that Steamboat reversed to take the second fall. They traded some nifty roll-up attempts in the third fall and tumbled outside as they fought over an abdominal stretch. They remained so engaged with the grappling that they got counted out. This didn't do a ton for the crowd, but they really produced something different from almost anything that will make the set. I was also interested to see Steamboat work a match based entirely on grappling. This struck me as the sort of unexpected nugget that makes these sets fun, so you guys should take a look. Jumbo/Baba vs. Gypsy Joe/Gino Hernandez - Just highlights, unfortunately. Ricky Steamboat/Chavo Guerrero vs. Mil Mascaras/Dos Caras (2/3 falls) - First fall showcased Chavo vs. Dos Caras and Steamboat vs. Mascaras with the first pairing coming off quicker and slicker and the second conveying more struggle. Steamboat and Chavo hit some seamless double teams to set up the first fall on Dos. The second fall unfolded in reverse with Steamboat and Mascaras working gritty hold exchanges for most of it and Chavo and Dos Caras topping it off with a fun exchange of highspots. Caras hit a sweet tope on Chavo and slid back in to beat the count for the second fall. The last fall featured more fun stuff from both pairings, climaxing with a series of miscommunication spots that left Caras in position to beat Chavo with a cross body off the top. Again, the crowd was dead, but I was really pleased they gave these guys so much time on TV to do something outside the AJPW norm. Another nomination.
