All Japan Classics 178

 

Bubba Rogers vs. Shunji Takano (taped 3.29.89)

- This starts off with Bubba abusing Takano and leading to a Bubba choke with a leather strap. Well, to get leverage, Bubba climbs to the top rope but gets thrown off by Takano. That was a brief comeback and a Bubba Slam ends it shortly after.

 

Masa Fuchi vs. Mitsuo Momota (PWF Jr. Title) (taped 6.5.89)

- Momota tries to get an early advantage and blindsiding Fuchi with a crossbody. It slows down after that but what a way to open the bout. After the initial flurry, they decide to stay on the ground for thefirst 5 minutes or so. Some sloppy dropkicks bring down a nice sequence where Momota teases a plancha but goes outside and kicks Fuchi to the guardrail. Really nice hot end with a bunch of false finishes and a sweet enziguiri that sends Momota out of the ring. Fuchi eventually wins with a Thesz press and I was about to write this off after the first few minutes but I think this deserves some recognition and a nomination. This took me completely off guard.

 

Dan Spivey vs. Sting (taped 4.16.89)

- This starts off hot with both Sting and Spivey moving and working hard. The entire opening sequence was great ending with the Bubba slam for a nearfall. After that initial flurry, they both piss it away by both botching moves. First, Spivey can't finish off a tilt-a-whirl sideslam and then Sting can't pick Spivey up and ends up dropping him in a botched Dominator. The top-rope clothesline by Sting looked ugly as hell also. Spivey ends up getting the 3-count on an ugly pin out of a Sharpshooter attempt. Man, I remember liking their 6/5 match. I'll have to revisit that one because this one blew after the first three awesome minutes.

 

Stan Hansen vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (PWF/UN Titles vs. International Title) (taped 4.16.89)

- - This is the Jumbo-Hansen I love where they slap, chop and punch the hell out of each other. I guess Jumbo has been in enough of these fights with Hansen because he is the one initiating brawling in the crowds and using chairs as weapons. The first half of the match clearly had Jumbo on the offensive but the tide turns in the 2nd half. This ends up with a brawl on the outside but it was fun as hell while it lasted. Nomination.

Big Bubba Rogers vs. Shunji Takano (3/27/88)

 

Bubba pretty much dominates.

 

AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Masa Fuchi © vs. Mitsuo Momota (3/29/89)

 

Momota makes his AJ Classics debut and Korakuen is hot for him. Momota comes out wildly hitting a cross body block on Fuchi sending him to the floor where he followed up with a tope suicida and this is awesome. It would then become a good back and forth wrestling match as both men would trade the advantage on the mat before we get a really fun stretch run where both men go all out getting nearfalls with the fans booing Fuchi which was awesome. Fuchi would eventually hit a Thesz Press to get the win much to the chagrin of the Korakuen fans. This was a blast and I think this moves forward easily.

 

"Dangerous" Danny Spivey vs. Sting (6/5/89)

 

Seeing Sting in All-Japan is fun and this starts out strong with both men clubbering and the Budokan fans are into this. Then we got into the botching stage of the match where both men botch moves and look pretty awkward which killed this match although Sting was still fun hitting a big plancha over the ringpost to the floor. Spivey getting the win was understandable since he was about to be working there regularly.

 

NWA United National/PWF Heavyweight Titles vs. NWA International Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta © (4/16/89)

 

This starts as a total brawl with Jumbo pounding on Hansen with everything including a steel chair. Jumbo was just beating the shit out of Hansen until Hansen turned the tables and started beating Jumbo's ass. The brawling continued as both men didn't care about wrestling and only cared about punishing each other eventually taking it to the floor where Joe Higuchi would count them both out. This was just pure hard hitting violence and this fucking ruled. Definite nomination.