Kerry Von Erich vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (2/3 Falls) (NWA Title, 5/22/84) (35:53)

- This is one of those famous matches that shows Kerry working an awesome match with someone besides Gordy, Flair or Lawler. I have always liked Kerry and defended him publicly during the Smarkschoice poll. He is far better than any of his brothers. First fall has the feeling out process with Jumbo being the aggressor. Jumbo’s persistence pays off as he wins the first fall with a backdrop driver. Great spot as Jumbo picks Kerry up early on and places him on the top rope to show him up. About ten minutes later, Kerry does the same thing to a huge reaction. Jumbo looks almost desperate here as he can taste the NWA title. Jumbo brings the big offense and even busts Kerry open. Kerry shows a lot of fight though and the two end up trading blows. After a Kerry discus punch, Jumbo springs off the ropes to attack but gets caught in a claw and Kerry captures the 2nd fall. The 3rd fall is pretty damn awesome as Kerry is fighting to put the claw back on and Jumbo fights to keep it off. Great counter as Jumbo stomps on Kerry’s hand repeatedly and slams his hand on the turnbuckle and ringpost to neutralize the claw. With Jumbo in control, Kerry turns the tide with a backdrop driver and piledriver of his own. I love it when wrestlers attempt moves that hurt them previously. In the end, both wrestlers are counted out but this is a Top 5 match and possible the best Kerry match ever. I’ll reserve that title until after the World Class set but this is right up there. Slam dunk nomination.

 

(AJC 108)

One of the few contenders for the top overall spot. I was worried that I had it overrated in my memory but nope. They did a great job of establishing Kerry as the rare guy with the size and athletic ability to go move for move with Jumbo. But they were smart to have Jumbo win the first fall so decisively, because that got the crowd invested in the possibility of him taking the belt. That backdrop suplex was vicious. Jumbo kept the crowd hyped by continuing his aggression into the second fall. Then they did a brilliant job of treating the claw as a total game changer that could get Kerry a win even when he'd been battered to that point. That added incredible drama to Jumbo's third-fall attempts to avoid the hold and destroy Kerry's hand. The last few minutes felt like epic, warring gods shit. The only things keeping it from ultimate victory would be Kerry's relative no-sell of the hand damage and the double countout. But this was a great fucking match and one I'll seriously consider for No. 1.

2 out of 3 falls for the NWA World Heavyweight Title: "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (5/22/84)

 

Jumbo had just lost the AWA title days earlier so the fans know that he is able to win the world title in any chance at it giving him more credibility than in the past. The first fall is mainly both guys trying to get the advantage with the early highlight being Kerry getting a stomach claw on Jumbo. I liked the sitting the other guy on the top rope interplay between the two and the tension is starting to rise here. Jumbo would nail Kerry with an enzuigiri then planted him with a big backdrop suplex to take the fall as the fans go nuts. Jumbo then goes on offense to start the next fall trying to put away Kerry who is juicing now but Kerry would get a sleeper to weaken Jumbo. Jumbo recovered though and went off on Kerry trying to finish him off but Kerry would lock on the iron claw with the fans going nuts and Kerry puts him away to tie the falls. The 3rd fall has that epic feel going on as Kerry goes for the claw again but Jumbo would break free then viciously attacked the claw hand forcing Kerry to go to Jumbo's playbook using a piledriver and a backdrop suplex which using your opponents moves against them is awesome. The battle would go to the floor and they would battle there with Kerry getting a claw then eating a backdrop suplex as Higuchi counts out both men. This was an awesome match and a slam dunk nomination.