All Japan Classics 54

Giant Baba/Jumbo Tsuruta v. Abdullah the Butcher/Killer Brooks (04/30/81)

- This was a mess. No one seemed to know what they wanted to do.

 

Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta v. Bruiser Brody & Scott Irwin (Tag Title, 06/29/80, Toronto)

- Shit, I don’t even recognize Irwin here. This was perfectly acceptable tag team wrestling but there wasn’t anything you could point to that says this match deserves consideration as one of the best All Japan has to offer. That is sad to say when this thing went well over 20 minutes.

 

Harley Race v. Mil Mascaras (NWA Title, 09/12/80)

- Early on, Mascaras catches Race off-guard with a flying cross chop and after he kicks out, Race slides all the way back to the other side of the ring while shaking it off. Great visual to start it off. The match kicked off with Mascaras doing his ground game that I love so much and Race bumping big for him. No bump was bigger than Race taking a flying body press while outside the ring. Tired of being shown up in all phases of the game, (holds, brawling, flying), the only way Race can gain control is by throwing a low blow. Mil gets advantage again outside so Race throws a table inside the ring and uses it to regain control. I really enjoyed this all the way through. It seemed like Race was playing Ric Flair and letting Mascaras shine most of the match. I’ll give it a nomination and see where it goes.

Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Abdullah the Butcher & Killer Brooks (4/30/81)

 

This starts in the crowd which was fun and it turns into about what you would expect from an Abby match. Brooks looked okay here and of course did the job.

 

Next is a Baba/Jumbo vs. Brody/Scott Irwin match from Toronto that will wait until Canada comes up.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: "Mr. Puroresu" Harley Race © vs. Mil Mascaras (9/12/80)

 

Mil getting a rare NWA title shot which he basically only got in All-Japan. There was a little miscommunication early but it wasn't too bad and Mil made up for it by transitioning to some matwork. Race would do his usual bumping like crazy including his wild bump over the top to the floor before eating a big cross body block by Mil for a nearfall. Race knowing that he was on the ropes here took Mil to the floor where they brawled a bit through the crowd but Mil would end up getting a chair and wrapped it over Harley's head then hit a big cross body block to him on the floor. Mil then went on offense but Harley went straight up lucha by fouling Mil like fucking Cien Caras then dropped knees and elbows on his head. Mil would recover and posted Race on the floor which got Harley so pissed he threw a table in the ring where he would use it on Mil. Harley then went for the kill with a piledriver but missed a falling headbutt giving Mil another chance to work on Race which led to some really solid back and forth action in the ring and on the floor using the ringbell and Joe Higuchi had enough and finally ruled it a DDQ since both men couldn't be controlled or better yet no jobbing for Mil. This was really fun with Race showcasing his bumping talent but Mil was hit and miss here as at times he was looking good but other times not so much. I'm leaning more towards Childs here and saying it's borderline at best.