Posted March 31, 200818 yr comment_5430257 Riki Choshu/Masa Saito vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Genichiro Tenryu (2/5/85) - I was watching some of the Idol Choshu Invasion set and even though I am not a huge fan of Choshu, he really breathed some life into the promotion when he came in. This match had the big time atmposphere with no one really gaining an advantage but with Choshu trying to soften up the opponents to apply the Sharpshooter. Both teams go back and forth but the only one not taking any real damage is Choshu. Hell, when Choshu is in with Tenryu, he just punts the hell out of him. Jumbo and Tenryu take turns getting beat up and escaping after blocking moves. Finally, Jumbo starts abusing Saito and they eventually battle outside and get counted out. This match felt like it was just getting warmed up. This was a spirited match that probably deserves a low-level nomination but not something I will go to the wall for. (Samurai Retro Classics #10)
May 20, 200916 yr comment_5439721 This definitely benefited from the hyper-charged atmosphere. The match mostly broke down into Choshu v. Tenryu and Jumbo v. Saito. I liked both match-ups a lot, but Will is right about the match ending just when it seemed set up for a hot finishing run. That makes sense given that it was more kindling for a long feud, but the lack of a closing section kept it from being ultimately satisfying. I agree with the lukewarm nomination.
September 27, 201015 yr comment_5456312 Riki Choshu & Masa Saito vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta (2/5/85) Man this crowd is electric for this one and they stay hot throughout the early part of the match where everyone was feeling each other out. Tenryu would hit the first big move of the match in a backdrop suplex but Jumbo would get caught by Masa and ate a spike piledriver turning it around. The action then became everyone hitting high impact moves in between matwork with the fans just staying at a molten level of crowd heat. Jumbo & Masa would suplex each other around the ring then the floor before Choshu gave Jumbo a lariat off the apron with Masa following up with a backdrop suplex on the floor for the double countout. This was very fun mainly thanks to the crowd as they were so fucking awesome here and I think we need to put this on the set just for the crowd and the significance of this being the first big match for Ishingun here.
