All Japan Classics 55

 

Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk & Dick Slater (5/2/80)

Early on, Slater and Funk work on Jumbo, preventing him from tagging into Baba. Once Baba is in, the momentum shifts to the natives. However, Terry and Slater are such a great tag team. They do a little comedy, a little heel work, some big tag team moves. Fun spot as Terry gets tangled in the ropes so Baba gives him the big boot. This knocks Terry back but he springs back into the same spot so Baba does it again and he goes flying to the floor. The natives win after Jumbo and Baba give Slater a double atomic drop. I don't think I would give this a strong nomination. I'll call it a middle of the road nomination where the tag work was good and the gaigin were fun as hell but that there wasn't any real drama or any doubt on who would win in the end.

 

Dick Slater & Ricky Steamboat vs. Abdullah The Butcher & Tor Kamata (11/28/80)

- I'll give this a mild nomination for the Steamboat blood, the wild brawling and Kamata's kicks to Steamboat's face. it doesn't last long before it spills into the crowd but Steamboat swinging a chair for survival and Slater taking Abbys's spike makes for great fun.

 

3. Dory and Terry Funk vs. The Sheik & Great Mephisto (11/28/80)

- This match wasn't that bad actually. Early on, they play it as a straight tag with the heels even working on Terry's back. Part of that work was Sheik biting his back repeatedly. Later on, Sheik and Terry go to Sheik's comfort zone in the crowd and Dory ends up beating Mephisto into the ring for a countout victory. This is short of a nomination but it was entertaining while it lasted.

 

4. Dick Slater v. Tiger Jeet Singh (07/04/81)

- I hate Singh and can't think of a situation where he would be considered part of a Greatest Match from the 80s.

Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk & "Mr. Unpredictable" Dick Slater (5/2/80)

 

A day later and no eyepatch for Slater but he has a big bandage on his back. Funny seeing Jumbo getting the smallest pop of the four. Funk & Slater keep it fun early with the normal schtick and the story here was to keep Jumbo in the ring since while he was good, he wasn't Baba and they could beat him. Baba then tags in and it becomes a competition on who could take the most punishment from him until Terry went balls out and hit a diving elbow from the top rope to the floor on Baba. Terry's selling here was awesome as he was acting groggy as shit so he outsold Slater then in the punching battle between them, Terry would take that one as well as he was peppering them good. The finish was sorta anti-climatic though with Slater doing the job of course. I'm in the middle here between Will & Childs but the greatness of Funk & Slater saved this match as Childs was right in that Baba & Jumbo was almost a whole bunch of nothing here. This moves forward but not by a whole lot.

 

Real World Tag League: Abdullah the Butcher & Tor Kamata vs. "Mr. Unpredictable" Dick Slater & Ricky Steamboat (11/28/80)

 

Funny watching Abby and his Northeastern clone team up and the Slater/Steamer team is quite the team. Steamer was fiery here of course and the fans were into him which was great then he gets destroyed by the heels juicing and taking a great beating. Steamer then fired it up on a comeback taking it to both heels then takes Abby's stick and along with Slater they pound him. Slater then works over Kamata and everyone is juicing here except Slater. The brawling goes to the crowd and all over ringside then the Funks come out cheering on their brethren until the Great Mephisto & The Sheik come out to start their match. I loved the insane brawling here and I'm for moving this forward.

 

Real World Tag League: Dory & Terry Funk vs. The Great Mephisto & The Sheik (11/28/80)

 

Frankie Cain & Ed Farhat were real cousins so it's fun watching them team up here and Mephisto was basically retired at this time from active wrestling. Terry does what he does best in All-Japan and that is taking a beating. This is mainly worked as a straight tag match with no real brawling or blood until Mephisto gets opened up from an old wound. Terry & Sheik would go to the floor to start the brawling through the crowd as Dory & Mephisto brawled as well but Dory would beat Mephisto back into the ring to get the countout win. This was way different than what I thought it would be and it was pretty decent but it's not a nomination.

 

"Mr. Unpredictable" Dick Slater vs. Tiger Jeet Singh (7/4/81)

 

This was your basic Tiger Jeet match and that isn't good but it was awesome seeing Bobby Heenan join him in beating down Slater after the match.