Stan Hansen vs. Genichiro Tenryu (PWF Title) (3/9/88)

- This has one of the greatest first minutes I have seen. They start going at each other before the streamers are cleared. Tenryu hits two enziguiris. One to the back of the head and one to the face! Hansen retaliates by shoving Tenryu out of the ring and into the ringpost. This whole sequence looked great. As Tenryu clutches his back in pain, Hansen seizes the opportunity to attack his back. Even with his chinlocks, he makes sure to shove the knee in the back. Great focus by Hansen. Tenryu’s comebacks in the match were great and you felt bad because every time he was making a run, Hansen pounds the back and he drops. Seriously, this was a work of art bby these guys and one of Hansen’s finer moments. I am surprised this match hasn’t been mentioned more. Right now, I have this in my Top Ten. It even had a clean pin on Hansen.

 

(AJC 165)

Man, they came out trading bombs. That shoulder block Hansen hit to knock Tenryu out of the ring was nuts. Then he just battered the shit out of Tenryu's midsection. After that, the match was all about Tenryu's attempts to find a little room to breathe and fight back. He really sold how damaged he was, failing to execute a bunch of moves because his body couldn't support them. And Hansen kept cutting him off. The only thing I didn't love about the match was the ending. I don't like the All-Japan convention of giving the up-and-comers flash wins after they've taken tons of punishment. Tenryu spent the whole second half of the match selling how fucked up he was, but suddenly, he was strong enough to hold Stan down with a simple roll-up? It seemed to cheapen his struggle. Anyway, this is still an easy choice for the set and will do well on my ballot.

PWF Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Genichiro Tenryu (3/9/88)

 

CATCH US IF YOU CAN!!!!!!! and this is a war at the bell with both men just kicking ass especially Tenryu hitting double enzuigiris in the streamers then Hansen just bullrushing him to the floor where he would post him and bash his head into the table. Hansen then ruthlessly works over Tenryu's back with steel chairs outside the ring and with holds inside the ring. Hansen kept this barrage up until Tenryu would sneak in an inside cradle for a nearfall followed up by a lariat on Hansen who was on his knees. Tenryu tried to go on offense but his back would give out on him giving Hansen time to regain his composure and go back to work on the back. Tenryu would slowly get more offense but he would miss a running lariat into the corner which sent him tumbling over the top and to the floor but Tenryu wouldn't let Hansen keep the advantage for long and this became a war of attrition with Tenryu's back failing him but Hansen getting tired as well from pounding on him and taking whatever offense Tenryu could muster up. Tenryu would sneak in another inside cradle on Hansen and he got the clean pin on Hansen shocking everyone and Hansen would attack him after the match hitting him with a running lariat with the bullrope wrapped around his arm. Hansen then went to attack Tenryu with the bell on the rope but Ashura Hara jumped on Tenryu to take the impact. Wild post match to end an awesome match. Definite nomination.