Posted February 23, 200817 yr comment_5428466 Stan Hanson vs. Genichiro Tenryu (AWA Title, 7/26/86) (15:00) - Early on, Hansen controls by working on the neck and head. If his goal is to set up the Lariat, this is a pretty good strategy. Tenryu takes over after Hansen misses a charge in the corner injures his shoulder. Tenryu takes advantage and starts working on the arm. I like the strategy of both guys but it isn’t that fun to watch. Things really pick up after it spills outside including a SWEET enziguiri by Tenryu as Hansen tries to get back in the ring. Hansen also gets busted open giving us our blood fix. When they end up out of the ring a 2nd time, both men get counted out and they brawl around the arena. The first half was pretty slow but it made sense even if it was a tad boring. The 2nd half was really fun and puts this in nomination territory. (AJC 134)
April 26, 201015 yr comment_5449968 Violence carried the day here. Tenryu laid about as stiff a beating on Hansen as anyone I've ever seen. I liked him resorting to potato shots and chops to the face after the enzuigiris failed to produce a pin. I'm always a sucker for Hansen bailing himself out with one desperation lariat, and I liked them fighting on the floor even as they could barely get up. It wasn't a thoughtful match and per usual, lacked a satisfying conclusion. But these are two of the hardest hitters in wrestling history and they delivered a bunch of hard hitting, enough for a yes vote.
September 8, 201015 yr comment_5455444 AWA World Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Genichiro Tenryu (7/26/86) Good fast paced start with both men bringing the aggression before Hansen would work headlocks and chinlocks weakening the neck. Hansen would miss a running shoulder into the corner with his lariat arm no less so Tenryu smartly decides to work that arm over. The match would go to the floor where they brawl a little before Tenryu comes back in and hits an enzuigiri sending Hansen from the apron back to the floor. Tenryu would come back for him and would bash Hansen's head into the table forcing him to juice then popping him with a couple more enzuigiris for nearfalls as the crowd was getting hot. Tenryu went for a powerbomb but failed so he decided to work over Hansen's cut some more until Hansen hit him with a desperation lariat sending both men to the floor. They fought on the floor as Joe Higuchi counted them out then continued to brawl after the match. Yeah this was a solid match and moves forward.
