All Japan Classics 191

 

Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas vs. Kenta Kobashi & Joe Malenko (All-Asian Tag Titles, 10/11/89)

- I loved Malenko kicking the crap out of Kroffat so he just tosses him out of the ring. Everyone is loking good in this one, even a young Kobashi. The biggest problem with the match is that there was never any extended amount of control time by either team. HOwever, the one thing this match really has going for it is execution. Just look at Kroffat's spin kick on Kobashi. Brutal! A short while later, watch the test of strength sequence worked by Kroffat and Malenko. The ending with Furnas and then Kroffat throwing everything out there to put Kobashi & Malenko away was also well-done and ended with the sweet double-team finish. The beautiful sequences, stiff action and neat groundwork make this an easy nomination.

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenyru (PWF/UN/INT'L Titles, 10/11/89)

- Not much action the first 5 minutes or so as both guys take turns controlling with headlocks. Shortly after, they take turns trying to work the arm. After a hard chop by Tenryu, Jumbo comes alive, shoves the ref out of the way, slaps Tenryu repeatedly and gives him a NICE dropkick followed by a baseball slide kick that shoots Tenryu out of the ring. Great sequence. After a few minutes of Jumbo controlling, Tenryu takes over and punishes Jumbo with some stiff kicks and chops. With a weakened Jumbo, Tneryu gets a powerbomb and after kicking out of the pin, Jumbo wisely rolls out of the ring. I am loving the action outside the ring as both guys rely on throwing chairs at different points in the match. Tenryu has the match under control until a Big Boot and Belly-to-belly turn the tide. Really great back and forth action throughout as Jumbo answers with some kicks and a killer clothesline. Awesome struggle toward the end with Tenryu trting to land a powerbomb and Jumbo trying to avoid it. This isn't as great as 6/5/89 but this is another easy nomination.

All-Asian Tag Titles: The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat) © vs. Kenta Kobashi & Joe Malenko (10/11/89)

 

Kobashi already getting title shots not even 2 years in the sport shows what kind of a phenom he was. I loved the battle of kicks early on between Kroffat & Malenko and this was already getting awesome just at the start. Kobashi & Furnas would then come in and they wouldn't be shown up as they had a really good exchange which had the crowd poppin. The match would continue with both teams trading the advantage back and forth showing their great athleticism. This led to a hot stretch run where the Can-Ams were trying their best to put Kobashi away but he wouldn't quit and the fans were loving him. Then you had Kobashi & Malenko using some nifty doubleteam moves on their own trying to put away Furnas but it would be the Can-Ams who would prevail in the end on an awesome finish. This was fucking fantastic and one of my favorite matches I've seen this week at least. Slam dunk nomination.

 

Triple Crown: Genichiro Tenryu © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (10/11/89)

 

The crowd is jacked up for this one even before they touch and they start off jockeying for the advantage but Tenryu would change the pace by paintbrushing Jumbo across the face so Jumbo throws the referee out of the way then nukes Tenryu with a dropkick right to the face. Jumbo took it to the floor using a steel chair on Tenryu's back and this would soon turn into another epic match between the two with both men breaking out the big guns in trying to put the other one away that would feature a great stretch run and Jumbo using a fuckin huracarana counter out of a powerbomb to win the match. Phenomenal match and another slam dunk nomination.