All Japan Classics 177

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Dan Spivey (taped 3.8.89)

- This was not bad at all. There were some dead spots but this was a really fun big man match. There was an over-reliance on the rest holds but it also had good stuff such as Jumbo giving the nod to Funk-Jumbo '76 and getting his throat dropped on the top rope. They didn't really go into a stretch run before Jumbo caught Spivey in a small package.

 

Ricky Steamboat vs. Tiger Mask (NWA Title) (taped 1.28.89)

- Major disappointment here. Misawa vs. Steamboat and it did not live up to expectations. This isn't actively bad but you have such high expectations that it doesn't deliver. THey work this like Flair-Steamboat with the occasional highpsot worked out of the headlock. Too bad they didn't really work the headlock or deliver anything that was memorable inbetween. The end run was really hot and I was almost tempted to nominate it because of the last few minutes but I think I'll pass.

 

Dynamite Kid/Davey Boy Smith vs. Joe & Dean Malenko April 29 (taped 3.27.88)

- I think this should probably be 1989. Man, give me this matchup with both teams in their prime and I think at least one matchup would make it. You could tell Dynamite was sick. They had some good technical stuff going on and some nice double teams but this didn't really capture my attention the way I would expect a 20 minute match between the Malenkos and Bulldogs to set the world on fire. Maybe I need to rewatch this.

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. "Dangerous" Danny Spivey (1/25/89)

 

This had some decent action but there was no heat.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat © vs. Tiger Mask II (3/8/89)

 

TM II is an interesting choice for a shot at Steamer. It is a shame that these two didn't have the match that they could've had and this is one of the major disappointments on the set. The stretch run was great but damn too little too late.

 

The British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) vs. Dean & Joe Malenko (1/28/89)

 

The Dogs are back and they get to showoff their skills against the Malenkos here with Korakuen digging all the wrestling and counter wrestling that was going on. The problem was though that it wasn't real dynamic as both teams just worked a bunch of spots with no focus. I did love the spot where Dean dropkicked Davey as he had Dynamite in the air and both went tumbling over the top rope to the floor. Korakuen was molten hot by this time as we were starting to enter the stretch run that would see Dynamite use a cutback cradle to get the win. This is a tough call as I think it would be fun to see on the set but the best thing about this match was the crowd being hot. I'm torn on a nomination.