All Japan Classics 138

 

Road Warriors v. Dennis Condrey/Bobby Eaton (12/29/86, Mid Atlantic)

- I was hoping this one would be a sleeper hit but I was bored. A lot of stalling, your mandatory Hawk piledriver no-sell and a flat crowd make me pass on this one. After the match, the MX blade but it is too little, too late.

 

Nikita Koloff/Krusher Kruschev v. Tenyru/Ricky Fuyuki (10/08/86)

- In Japan for this one. This one ends after Nikita and Darsow give Fuyuki the Russian Sickles.

 

Road Warriors v. Shoehi Baba/Tenyru (10/21/86)

- The Hawk-Baba matchup is one that really magnifies how bad Baba looks against the new generation of wrestlers. Really awkward match where it seems like the language barrier really created a disjointed match.

 

Stan Hanson v. Terry Gordy (09/11/86)

- Both guys go at it before the bell with Hansen still wearing his vest. Really nice piledriver block by Hansen. Gordy has him up but Hansen grabs the ropes while upside down and pulls him self through the ropes, allowing him to grab Gordy’s hair and yank him over the top rope. Outside, Hansen busts Gordy open by ramming him into the ringpost. Once inside, Hansen goes to town on the head and the cut. I am always a sucker for that kind of focus. A 2nd time outside costs Hansen as he misses a lariat and rams his arm into the ringpost. Of course, this allows Gordy to work over the arm. I love it. Damn, this match was going great until Killer Khan interfered on Gordy’s behalf and they attack Hansen after the DQ. That ending completely ruined this for me. No vote. I may put this on my Hansen comp though.

 

Tiger Jeet Singh v. Hiroshi Wajima (11/01/86)

- No

This starts with a JCP match.

 

Nikita Koloff & Krusher Khrsuchev vs. Samson Fuyuki & Genichiro Tenryu (10/8/86)

 

Basically a squash.

 

Giant Baba & Genichiro Tenryu vs. The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) (10/21/86)

 

Baba against the Roadies wasn't a good matchup as they weren't like say a Brody or Hansen who came to Japan when Baba was on top and still could really work so they developed a rapport with him and when the Roadies came in Baba was pretty much relegated to feuding with Rusher Kimura and working against the absolute top guys on occasion. They showed him respect and the crowd was into this but it wasn't a good match.

 

Stan "The Lariat" Hansen vs. Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy (9/11/86)

 

When future tag partners collide. This is a brawl at the bell as these powerhouses throw bombs on each other throughout. Gordy tries to powerbomb Hansen but he would get caught in the ropes and pulled Gordy to the floor with him where Hansen would post Gordy forcing the juice. Hansen was relentless working over the cut until they went back to the floor where Hansen would miss a lariat hitting all ringpost. This gave Gordy the opportunity he needed and he worked on the arm as hard as Hansen worked over the cut while bleeding like a fucking gutted pig. Killer Khan of all people would show up WITH HAIR and helped his rival Gordy work over Hansen using a steel chair but Gordy would hit Khan by mistake giving Hansen the chance to use the chair on them. I loved this match as it was like a war with both men being awesome and even with the DQ finish, I think this is an easy nomination.

 

Hiroshi Wajima vs. Tiger Jeet Singh (11/1/86)

 

May the lord have mercy on us all.