Posted March 1, 200817 yr comment_5428883 Stan Hanson vs. Giant Baba (PWF Title, 7/30/85) - Another hot match between these two. They work on the ground early on but brawl in the later stages. Baba attacks the arm outside the ropes on the apron but Hansen wins with a nice backdrop driver. I am going to throw it on the block only so people can compare all of the Baba-Hansen matches. (AJC 116)
December 1, 200915 yr comment_5446095 I'll be interested to see how voters react to Baba. I'm sure some people won't be able to get past how slow and weak some of his stuff looked. But he was such a smart worker with a unique connection to his audience. Paired with an equally smart worker like Stan, who always sold for him, he could still have a damn good match at this stage. I thought his lack of athleticism took away from the takedown-into-armbar spots, but his persistece in attacking the lariat arm worked overall. I always love Stan's desperation offense, and his lariat and dropkick on the outside were great tide-turners in this one. The end came abruptly but as Ditch mentioned in one of the NJ threads, the suplex from apron into ring had magical properties in Japan. Anyway, we'll have to compare all of their matches, but this is a yes for now.
August 18, 201015 yr comment_5454617 PWF Heavyweight Title: Giant Baba © vs. Stan "The Lariat" Hansen (7/30/85) This is like the 3/24/84 match as far as psychology goes Baba wise as he works over Hansen's left arm which is the lariat arm. I like Hansen pulling down his kneepad to deliver a knee to the back of Baba's head then the front showing that he was meaning business but Baba would go back to work on the arm. Baba crushing Hansen with a legdrop was great but Hansen would come firing back with his lariat though that took Baba to the floor and Hansen to the mat in pain. They would brawl on the floor and Baba would wrap Hansen's arm around the ringpost then went back to work on it relentlessly. Hansen knowing that he must do something then hits a big dropkick to Baba on the floor as the fans go nuts but Baba would work his way back to the ring with Hansen giving him a backdrop from the apron that put Baba away giving Hansen the title. Baba was awesome here working over the arm and Hansen was great showing his desperation getting the victory and this is an easy nomination.
