Posted February 5, 200817 yr comment_5427859 All Japan Classics 183 Shunji Takano vs. Toshiaki Kawada (7/11/89) - I was digging the hell out of this match but the crowd could care less. Nakano executes a nice capture suplex early on but Kawada was controlling with various submissions. Kawada was already displaying his kicking variations. Takano takes control in a nice sequence where Kawada kicked Takano out of the ring, goes for a plancha only to miss Takano. In turn, Takano hits a plancha instead and injured Kawada’s back. The end stretch has Takano working on the back and Kawada attempting to put this thing away. However, Takano comes off the top with a kneedrop for a win. I liked the match but the lack of heat really hurt it. I’ll nominate it but won’t go to the wall for it. Ricky Fuyuki & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas (All Asian Tag Title) (6/5/89) (24:17) - Man, this is one of my favorite tags of the 1980s and it may just be a case where my #1 and #2 are from the same show. I love the early exchange between Lafon and Kawada where they lose their cool after Lafon slaps Kawada. I love how Furnas and Fuyuki slow it down until their partners hit the ring again and it is full steam ahead. I love how after the early stage, it is a constant game of one-upmanship with both teams taking you on a roller coaster ride with both battling back and forth for control. All the while, Kawada and Lafon continue their mini-feud when the time seems right. The crowd was hot, they cheered the gaigin over the natives and both teams were just freaking awesome here. Strong nomination. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy vs. Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith (6/5/89) - It’s so sad watching DK in this knowing how torn up he was but damn, Terry Gordy kept feeding him and bumping for him and getting the crowd into the match. God Bless Terry Gordy. At this point, Davey was gassed to the point where he looked like he was big enough to be in the same ring as Terry and Stan. The match itself is a credit to Terry Gordy and how great he was. I don’t think it is strong enough for a nomination but it is the perfect preview o why Gordy will eventually be the MVP of the World Class set. He gives so much to opponent’s who don’t deserve to hold his jock and the matches are much better as a result.
