All Japan Classics 151

 

 

Genichiro Tenyru vs. Tiger Mask (6/1/87)

- There wasn’t really much of a story here. It played like a really well-executed spotfest. Tenryu would try to keep it grounded occasionally but the big moves and stiff strikes are what define this match. A lot of nearfalls and 2 counts in the end but Tenryu finally has enough and spikes Misawa with a powerbomb. On the one hand, his was just a bunch of big moves. On the other hand, I think this is something that would play huge on a set. I am going to nominate it.

 

Genichiro Tenyru & Hara vs. Wajima & Ishikawa (6/8/87)

- The story her e is Tenryu and Hara work over Ishikawa while Tenryu taunts Wajima. Once the two are in the ring together, the place explodes. In this match I knew Tenryu would be stiff but I was not expecting everyone to lay the strikes in. Even the ending was a pleasant surprise as Ishikawa is on the top rope, avoids Hara interference and then gets blasted by a Tenryu clothesline to win the match. Good tag match and worth at least some consideration.

 

Tiger Mask vs. Ted Dibiase (7/19/87)

- Early on, it is Ted Dibiase who is full of energy and he really abuses Misawa so Misawa feels he has to slow it down with a headlock. Once Dibiase gains control, he abuses Misawa like he was a jobber at the Boy’s Club. Misawa gets some hope spots but Dibiase stays one step ahead. For example, Dibiase is kicked outside so Misawa goes for the plancha. Dibiase moves and he meets the concrete. When Misawa tries to get in the ring, Dibiase attempts to suplex him but Misawa escapes and hits a German for the pin in a really solid short match. I had no problems with this match but it won’t get very far compared to a lot off the other matches out there. No vote from me but if someone else wants to put it on, I wouldn’t fight it.

 

Jumbo Tsuruta & Wajima vs. Stan Hansen & Ted Dibiase (7/30/87)

- I never noticed before but Wajima is moving in slow motion here. He didn’t look like this in the previous tag. This had some good spots in it but for the most part, it was a disjointed mess with a dead crowd. Everyone wanted to go their own direction without consulting with the other three.

Genichiro Tenryu vs. Tiger Mask II (6/1/87)

 

It's a battle of Jumbo's former and current tag partners. This was fun as TM was trying to prove his worth to Tenryu going hit for hit with him as he used some hard kicks and Tenryu followed with some very hard chops. So they would take it to the mat where again Tenryu had the edge but when it went to the floor, TM just nailed him with a plancha off the top rope sending both men crashing over the rail onto the ringside table. Then they would trade big moves and nearfalls with the crowd really getting into it before Tenryu would finally put him away with a powerbomb. This was a very fun sprint that moves forward.

 

Revolution (Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu) vs. Takashi Ishikawa & Hiroshi Wajima (6/8/87)

 

Tenryu's cocksucker glare to Wajima before the match was awesome then it would continue as he would taunt him for a while then would tag out to Hara when Wajima tagged in. Ishikawa is kind of like the AJPW version of Kantaro Hoshino as he is a smaller guy although not as small as Hoshino who always hung tough with the big guys. Hara & Wajima would have a slapfest before Tenryu came in and they went to war on each other having to be pulled apart before Ishikawa would come back in to settle it down. They would meet again and Tenryu picked up Wajima for a backdrop that looked like he was being deadweighted on and this was fun shit as they were hitting hard now. Hara's lariat to Wajima's ear was fierce and so was Wajima's backdrop suplex in return. This may be Wajima's crowning moment here as he gets a nearfall on the Uranage then a big lariat on Hara that almost knocked him out of his boots. Then it would break down into a 4-way with Ishikawa eating a big lariat by Tenryu to end the match. Tenryu then shooed Wajima away after the bell before they walked out. This was awesome and it is a definite nomination. Wajima makes the set!!!

 

Tiger Mask II vs. Ted DiBiase (7/19/87)

 

This is Ted's last tour before going to WWF full-time so you know what this means. TM wants to work a headlock for most of the match while DiBiase totally outshines him on offense in almost every way. DiBiase would hit a backdrop suplex on the floor then as he tried to suplex TM back in the ring, TM would counter out with a German suplex to get the win. This was a fun match but even with TM getting the big win it just isn't a nomination.

 

Jumbo Tsuruta & Hiroshi Wajima vs. Ted DiBiase & Stan "The Lariat" Hansen (7/30/87)

 

Wajima is back to his sucky ways here bigtime and the match wasn't any good at all.