Jumbo Tsuruta | Great Kabuki | Isao Takagi vs Genichiro Tenryu | Toshiaki Kawada | Samson Fuyuki
January 2, 1990
All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Years Giant Series

7.5

Even if we concede that the Jumbo-Tenryu rivalry, which was nearing the three-year mark at this point, was getting old, there is no denying that the work in the ring is still excellent, whether it comes from Tenryu and Kabuki trading chops and uppercuts or Isao Takagi's inspired underdog babyface performance, capped off by a five-alarm blade job. The entire match builds to Takagi getting a close, believable nearfall on Tenryu. Regardless of Tenryu's imminent departure, perhaps it was a sign that the rivalry was running out of steam when coming out of this match, Tenryu programs with Kabuki and Takagi seemed more urgent than big Tenryu-Tsuruta match.

Availability

All Japan Pro Wrestling Special on NTV - Aired January 15, 1990

Fun 6-man, this one. Another step in the Jumbo/Tenryu feud and the brief exchanges between the two are exciting. For me though, this stood out for two reasons: the performance of Isao Takagi and Great Kabuki repeatedly nailing Tenryu every change he gets. Takagi is in there quite a bit and at one point there's a commotion on the outside which results in Kabuki & Jumbo holding back the ref. When things settle down we see Takagi emerging, covered in blood. He continues to hang in there though, even when he's up against Tenryu, who may have been hurt by Kabuki attacking him and laying in stiff shots to his face over and over again. Kabuki's really fired up here. It's one of his more memorable performances. He seems to have a genuine grievance with Tenryu because he absolutely wallops him whenever he can. Tenryu eventually puts the bloody Takagi away but you definitely come out of this match thinking that Tenryu is vulnerable.