Posted January 5, 201114 yr comment_5461520 Nick Bockwinkel/Curt Hennig v. Jumbo Tsuruta/Genchiro Tenryu JIP and from Japan so irrelevant anyhow. Nick Bockwinkel/Curt Hennig v. Stan Hansen/Ted Dibiase See above. Nick Bockwinkel v. Curt Hennig It's basically irrelevant what I think of this because this is THE match people think of when they think of AWA for better or worse. It is making the set. The first 20 minutes of this are really a mixed bag. The one badly botched spot is early and mostly irrelevant but you still can't help but feel that a big portion of the early work is just egregious "killing time" style "work." I put "work" in parenthesis because during the first half o this match Bock is perfectly content to lay around with a hold on here and there. Bock is much better on the defensive during the opening half as he works some nice bridging spots and generally tries to work some decent escape spots. They do some good up and down hope spots and some good tempo readjustment spots. Still this match is nothing special until the ref bump shortly after the 30 minute mark. That was a GREAT spot because the fans had been conditioned by this point to assume the worst with a ref bump, so when Hennig and Bock get nasty with each other on the floor you think it's going to a DQ and instead they go to a story of Bock attacking Hennig's wheel and Hennig trying to take it to a "tired" Bockwinkel who is clearly working a "veteran on the ropes" gimmick, asking the ref how much time is left, trying to find ways to avoid contact, et. Hennig 's bumping and selling really helps this the longer it goes along as his defeated face plant into the steps and sell of a Bock forearm off of a strike exchange around the 45 minutes mark were really great moments that seemed to bolster the over all feel of this at moments when it started to seem "long." Bock's escape of the mid-ring Boston Crab, into the sunset flip roll up was a really great exchange that sort of signaled the beginning of the final stretch. God damn the Hennig roll up after Bock plays "confused old man" and things he's won with a suplex is a really tremendous nearfall and leads to a really fun burst of offense from Hennig. Hennig of course takes an insane bump after trying to lock on a spinning toehold and goes shooting hard to the floor, bloodying himself in the process. At this point the match is no longer about Hennig's leg at all (the vicious Indian Deathlock Bock worked earlier is long forgotten now) and is all about Curt's cut, with Curt getting pounded into the mat, pounded into the steel, and just straight up pounded with punches to the skull. This creates a unique dynamic of sorts as the ref is checking Bock and instead of it being "can old man Bock keep his title" it almost starts to feel like "can the young guy avoid death." Of course as soon as this story starts to develop Hennig makes his comeback, busts open Bock and shit starts to get really fucking great as you realize this is the ultimate in escalating matches. Fucking great blood drenched nearfall off of a suplex with Hennig nearly dying trying to get over for the cover. Final minute and a half is Bock in the figure-four trying to fight it off, trying to make the ropes and then ultimately just doing enough to survive until the bell. The flaws of the first half are easily forgettable and forgiven by the greatness of the second half. Curt Henning interview post-draw EXTRA Brief interview with Bock at CAC convention.
January 5, 201114 yr comment_5461537 I think that's the interview where he thanked me for getting him some tapes of his matches. The VQ on this is ok but there's a clean version from WWE 24/7 out there now as I recall.
January 11, 201213 yr comment_5492133 AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel © vs. Curt Hennig (11/21/86) This is an all-timer and probably the leading candidate for the #1 spot on this list. Amazing match and a grand slam nomination.
January 12, 201213 yr Author comment_5492210 I am really interested to see where Bock v. Hennig finishes. On some level I cop that I don't "want" it to finish number one because if it does I will just assume people either pre-graded based on expectations or didn't even watch everything and just had that as the de facto top dog based on rep/having seen it in the past. On the other hand this is a really great match that absolutely holds up and is a number one contender. Despite my fears that this will get extra points based on reputation it lives up to it, and I also have a contrasting fear that it will be hurt by people who simply don't like long matches. As an aside, In some respects I think Bock v. Hennig holds up as a rivalry better than Steamboat/Flair.
January 12, 201213 yr comment_5492248 The worry with it is that people have pre-ordained it as the #1 and will skim over the other worthwhile contenders, of which there are several, IMO.
January 12, 201213 yr comment_5492253 Well we have that in every one of these we have done and that's the way it will be for the rest as well. The matches are pimped for a reason because most deserve it. NJPW did prove more matches didn't hold up over the years such as TM/DK. Bock/Hennig is no Steamer/Flair mainly because the best matches those two had don't exist on tape. Bock/Hennig was a fantastic rivalry but only lasted a short while Steamer/Flair went off and on for over 15 years.
