Posted October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816417 I'm curious as to everyone's pick as to the earliest all-time great match that transcends eras. Speaking personally, the earliest match I'd unequivocally go to bat for is Giant Baba vs. Billy Robinson on 7/24/76. There are a few 60s and 70s matches I'd like to re-explore, though.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816418 I believe my earliest truly great match would be the 2/3 falls Funks-Butcher/Abby matches. Wasn't a fan of the Baba-Robinson classics on first viewing so that needs some revisiting for me.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816422 From what I've seen, it has to be those French matches from the 60s that trickled their way onto the net a few years back. One of the singles matches from 62(?) in particular was blowaway great.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816430 I adore Baba Vs destroyer 2/3 falls from may 1969 just 55 mins of purely brilliant matwork. I cannot remember anything before it that I have loved as much but then again I have not seen a huge amount of 50s and 60s footage. But I know there is surprisingly a large amount out there with plenty of jwa footage in particular. https://youtu.be/nAoTEK7wNts
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816433 I adore Baba Vs destroyer 2/3 falls from may 1969 just 55 mins of purely brilliant matwork. I think that would be the one for me too. I remember watching for the first GWE poll, when the Destroyer craze was still going strong.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816434 Jim Londos vs. Bronco Nagurski (Philadelphia, 11/18/1938) Cosign.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816439 Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr. from 1972: Jack Brisco vs. Giant Baba from 1974: Both those matches are full of bombs and high spots. Stuff from 60s and before is too mat-based for me.
October 11, 20177 yr comment_5816457 Jim Londos vs. Bronco Nagurski (Philadelphia, 11/18/1938) Cosign.
October 12, 20177 yr comment_5816521 HBK vs Hart Iron man.... Kidding kidding kidding. I was going to say the Gilbert Cesca vs Billy Catanzarro French Catch match, but I will have to check out some of these others people are posting. As far as ones I am certain of the date. There is Jumbo/Funk match a month before Baba/Robinson that I consider elite, so those two '76 matches are noteworthy for me.
October 12, 20177 yr comment_5816522 If it's limited to all-time great matches then it's probably Funk/Jumbo in 1976. If it's more broad, then definitely O'Conner/Rogers from Comiskey Park in 1961 - it's a legitimate great match and historic moment.
October 27, 20177 yr comment_5817945 70s All Japan is a goldmine for great matches. Call me crazy but I'd say that era was as good as 90s All Japan.
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