All Japan Classics 165

 

Tom Magee vs. ??? (3/27/88)

- Magee wins with a Canadian Backbreaker

 

Tiger Mask & Kabuki vs. Austin Idol & Tommy Rich (3/27/88)

- Man, I could imagine this taking place in a Memphis studio at the time. Someone forgot to tell Idol that this was Japan because he looks lost here. Kabuki plays native in peril but since he shows no emotion, it is hard to get behind him. This ends out of nowhere as Misawa rolls up Idol. Disappointing.

 

Jumbo Tsuruta & John Tenta vs. Bruiser Brody & Bubba Rogers (3/26/88)

- Not much of a match before everything spills outside for the double countout.

 

Stan Hansen vs. Genichiro Tenryu (PWF Title) (3/9/88) (22:00)

- This has one of the greatest first minutes I have seen. They start going at each other before the streamers are cleared. Tenryu hits two enziguiris. One to the back of the head and one to the face! Hansen retaliates by shoving Tenryu out of the ring and into the ringpost. This whole sequence looked great. As Tenryu clutches his back in pain, Hansen seizes the opportunity to attack his back. Even with his chinlocks, he makes sure to shove the knee in the back. Great focus by Hansen. Tenryu’s comebacks in the match were great and you felt bad because every time he was making a run, Hansen pounds the back and he drops. Seriously, this was a work of art bby these guys and one of Hansen’s finer moments. I am surprised this match hasn’t been mentioned more. Right now, I have this in my Top Ten. It even had a clean pin on Hansen.

Tom Magee vs. Isao Takagi (3/27/88)

 

I'm pretty certain this was Takagi and Magee didn't look terrible but that's coming soon though.

 

The Great Kabuki & Tiger Mask II vs. "Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol & "Wildfire" Tommy Rich (3/27/88)

 

Intriguing match here. This had a southern tag formula which was cool but the problem was that Kabuki was FIP and he brought almost zero emotion in that role. Idol & Rich were fine here but this wasn't enough for a nomination.

 

Bruiser Brody & Big Bubba Rogers vs. John Tenta & Jumbo Tsuruta (3/26/88)

 

Fun watching the future Bossman & Earthquake work against each other but other than that not much here.

 

PWF Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Genichiro Tenryu (3/9/88)

 

CATCH US IF YOU CAN!!!!!!! and this is a war at the bell with both men just kicking ass especially Tenryu hitting double enzuigiris in the streamers then Hansen just bullrushing him to the floor where he would post him and bash his head into the table. Hansen then ruthlessly works over Tenryu's back with steel chairs outside the ring and with holds inside the ring. Hansen kept this barrage up until Tenryu would sneak in an inside cradle for a nearfall followed up by a lariat on Hansen who was on his knees. Tenryu tried to go on offense but his back would give out on him giving Hansen time to regain his composure and go back to work on the back. Tenryu would slowly get more offense but he would miss a running lariat into the corner which sent him tumbling over the top and to the floor but Tenryu wouldn't let Hansen keep the advantage for long and this became a war of attrition with Tenryu's back failing him but Hansen getting tired as well from pounding on him and taking whatever offense Tenryu could muster up. Tenryu would sneak in another inside cradle on Hansen and he got the clean pin on Hansen shocking everyone and Hansen would attack him after the match hitting him with a running lariat with the bullrope wrapped around his arm. Hansen then went to attack Tenryu with the bell on the rope but Ashura Hara jumped on Tenryu to take the impact. Wild post match to end an awesome match. Definite nomination.