All Japan Classics 108

 

Harley Race vs. Ric Flair (5/22/84) (18:23)

- Another awesome Flair-Race matchup. I think this might do better on the All Japan set due to it not being compared to a couple of the NWA nominations. A lot of great back and forth action here as each man takes advantage of the other’s arrogance. This is the theme of the match when the other guy grabs control. You see it when Race goes to the top rope only to have Flair throw him off in a nice display of poetic justice. You see it when Flair tries to overpower Race only for Race to pick him up for a huge press slam. It was there when Race was posing while Fair ran the ropes and successfully executed the rare body press. Then, only seconds later, setting up the Figure-4, it was more important for Flair to shout out his “Wooo”, allowing Race to kick him off sending Flair’s shoulder into the ringpost. This allowed Race to hit that diving headbutt off the top rope onto the shoulder for the pin. Great stuff and a slam dunk nomination.

 

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.

Already seen Flair & Race.

 

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.