All Japan Classics 135

 

Road Warrior Animal vs. Higo Hamaguchi & Nakano (11/1/86)

- Handicap squash.

 

Hiro Saito vs. Brad Armstrong (7/31/86)

- Pretty decent match that is hurt by the dead crowd.

 

Road Warriors vs. Dory and Terry Funk (10/10/86)

- Terry’s Manny Fernandez moustache is doing him no favors. Too much Road Warrior domination and no-selling for me to nominate but the Funks are making this hard since they are really good at selling and bumping here.

 

Stan Hanson vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (AWA v. Int'l Title, 7/31/86) (21:52)

- Early on, this reminded me of Hansen-Tenryu except Jumbo was the one who took control early and Hansen had to fight back to get in the match. Jumbo does some nice stuff like his jumping armbars. Great sequence as Jumbo his Hansen with a Lariat outside and gives him firm control of the match. Jumbo is tired of waiting inside the ring so he goes outside and misses Hansen this time and hits the ringpost. At this point, it becomes a battle of who can do the most damage to the other guy’s arm. In the end, Hansen rolls up Jumbo in the middle of the ring for a clean pin. This might not rank high but it was solid enough for a nomination.

Handicap Match: Road Warrior Animal vs. Animal Hamaguchi & Shinichi Nakano (11/1/86)

 

Wow a handicap squash.

 

Decision Match for the vacant AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Hiro Saito vs. Brad Armstrong (7/31/86)

 

Man I wish this would've been better because I love Brad but this was just a good match. A really good stretch run would've been great.

 

Dory & Terry Funk vs. The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) (10/10/86)

 

YAY Terry is back and with his hair/mustache combo, he looks like he is ready to star with Nina Hartley more than starring with Patrick Swayze. The Roadies were in full Roadies in Japan mode as far as selling here. This was entertaining but not a nomination.

 

AWA World Heavyweight Title vs. NWA International Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta © (7/31/86)

 

Jumbo works the arm hard here like Tenryu did days earlier and Hansen works headlocks and chinlocks like he did himself against Tenryu days earlier so there is some overlap here in that department but there are some differences as they are doing more especially Hansen who is coming off the ropes with reverse kneedrops plus Jumbo works over Hansen's back even using a lariat on it. Jumbo would go for the lariat again but this time hit all ringpost so now both men are going hard after the others lariat arm. DiBiase would come down to ringside as Jumbo is getting the best of Hansen to root him on but it isn't helping as Jumbo is on fire here until he hits his high knee on Hansen's back and both men tumble to the floor but they get back in the ring as Sumo Hall erupts. Hansen would get back in and got Jumbo in an O'Connor Roll to retain his title pulling that out of his ass in desperation. This was really damn good and moves forward easily.