All Japan Classics 53

 

The Sheik vs. Ricky Steamboat (12/9/80)

- At first, this looks like a styles clash but it forces Steamboat to find his inner-Abdullah and both guys are a bloody mess three minutes in. Seriously, you wish Steamboat would cut loose like this more often but when he does, it stands out more. The entire match and post-match lasts about ten minutes but it was a blast seeing Sheik running away from Steamboat who looked like he was possessed. I am probably crazy for nominating this but I can't see leaving it off.

 

Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher (4/10/81)

- THis is almost an exact duplicate of the last match with very little wrestling and mostly arena brawling. However, where the last match had Steamboat chasing Sheik around the arena, this match has Abdullah and Brody with eaach other's hands around their throats the entire time they brawl. I am going to nominate this one with reservations. I want to see if there are any other Brody-Abby matches that are representative if what these two were doing and why they got their reputations. However, if a better one comes along, we can drop this one.

 

Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta & Mil Mascaras v. Bobo Brazil, Carlos Colon & Abdullah the Butcher (9/6/79)

- 1970s match

 

Giant Baba vs. Harley Race (NWA Title 9/10/80)

- Early on, you can tell Race is pissed, because he hits Baba with the piledriver right off the bat and maintains control. This doesn't last long as Baba snaps out of it and realizes he wants to hold on to the belt a little longer. When Baba is on offense, the match is almost identical to the Baba win but Race ends up hitting more of his high-end offense in this match and that made the difference. The end of this match was much more interesting with Baba busting Race open on the ringpost. When Race gets in, he is a bloody mess and Baba tries to put it away. First he drops the BIG Boot and Race gets a leg on the ropes. He executes the Hart Attack clothesline and a piledriverbut Race escapes. I don't know what he was thinking but Baba tries to go to the top rope, is knocked down and pinned by Race. THis match was nearly just as awesome as the Baba win and is a definite nomination as well.

Ricky Steamboat vs. The Sheik (12/9/80)

 

The fans are hot for Steamer here as he comes out dropkicking Sheik out of the ring who would come back in the ring with a hammer and he pounds on him with the fans chanting RICKY. Steamer then takes the hammer and returns the favor but Sheik has his stick which brings out the juice and now we have both men juicing like crazy. They brawl through the crowd then Steamer bangs Sheik's head into a table before it comes back to the ring where Sheik starts going after the referee and he calls for the bell as it has gotten to chaotic for him. This is a wild out of control brawl that I feel like Childs should be more of an extra than a nomination but this MUST be on the set.

 

Abdullah the Butcher vs. Bruiser Brody (4/10/81)

 

You would think that these two would've wrestled a ton in Japan but it's not true as Abby would leave for New Japan when Hansen came in and came back to All-Japan when Brody was in New Japan so they were rarely concurrent with each other. Abby juices as soon as he gets in the ring and takes a pounding but he breaks out the stick and Brody blades as he walks around which is such fucking bullshit, making it so fucking obvious if you know what's going on. Then they brawled through the crowd but it wasn't much going on though as they were basically locked up standing and on the floor with Joe Higuchi calling for the DQ. Shit if you want to put a Brody vs. Abby match on here then I guess this is it if another doesn't come along but I didn't enjoy this as much as the Steamer/Sheik brawl so I'm going towards no on a nomination.

 

Then a 70's match.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Giant Baba © vs. "Mr. Puroresu" Harley Race (9/10/80)

 

Race is ready to get his title back and hits a piledriver right after the bell establishing control hitting a diving headbutt off the ropes but would then miss the next one giving Baba the chance to get control and he knows that he must put Race away because of his motivation. Baba on offense is a lot like his title win match with Race hitting similar bumps and sells but he also juices here after Baba bashes his head on a ringpost. Race also gets to hit more offense here and kicks out of Baba's big moves forcing Baba to be desperate and climbs up top so Race grabs the ropes crotching him and pins him afterwards to regain the title. This was great stuff and on par with the match days earlier and is an easy nomination.