All Japan Classics 131

 

Tenyru vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu (05/10/86)

- Early on, this feels disjointed and sloppy. Tenryu goes form working the leg to the head lock. Yatsu does some counter kicks that just look awkward. There were some nice moments like the Tenryu diving elbows and a sweet belly to belly by Yatsu. However, after a Yatsu German suplex, Strong Machine comes in for the DQ. This was not worthy of a nomination. There were too many things going wrong with this including the bad ending.

 

Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu & Higo Hamaguchi (05/17/86)

- I am really digging Hamaguchi. So far, he has been stuck in tag matches where his opponents let him down or the match falls apart. I really want to see some more singles matches. This one is really hurt by the flat crowd. The guys hit some big moves and the crowd does not care. Tenryu hits the Enziguiri. Nothing. Jumbo hits a jumping knee. Nada. Hamaguchi does some cool stuff (like his running elbow drop or top rope elbow) and they yawn. Shit, Yatsu and Hiro hit a spike piledriver and receive complete apathy. Tenryu finally drops Hiro with a powerbomb to end it. Man, this could have been so much more. What a letdown.

 

Genichiro Tenyru vs. Strong Machine (UN Title, 06/12/86)

- After initially being on offense, Machine receives a running corner clothesline and DDT from Tenryu but doesn’t allow Tenryu to take over on offense. This bothered me. IN fact, this entire match just wasn’t clicking with me. Maybe it is because Strong Machine just isn’t that interesting. Is there someone notable under the mask that I don’t know about? Anyway, the crowd and action pick up at the end and Tenryu wins clean after he reverses a pin.

Genichiro Tenryu vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu (5/10/86)

 

This should've been a whole lot better but it was lacking a spark and felt like just a match. Super Strong Machine was shown at ringside before the match so that was an angle alert and sure enough he was involved in the finish to setup the future Tenryu/Machine match. There was some good stuff here though just not enough.

 

Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Animal Hamaguchi & Yoshiaki Yatsu (5/17/86)

 

Both teams worked hard here and kept the match moving at a fast pace but like Will said the big problem here is that the crowd didn't react to shit. Everyone would hit their key moves and there was a tepid reaction at best making you wish this match was taking place at either the Budokan or Korakuen. Fun little match but not a nomination.

 

NWA United National Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenryu © vs. Super Strong Machine (Junji Hirata) (6/12/86)

 

Machine was very aggressive here to start as he allowed a running clothesline and DDT by Tenryu but would go right back on offense afterwards keeping the pressure on Tenryu. Machine would stay dominant allowing Tenryu a move here or there but nothing that would stop him from being in control. The aggression would pick up after a Machine lariat sent Tenryu to the floor then he caught him with a plancha from the top rope to the floor before running Tenryu into the ringpost as he got on the apron. Machine then would hit a piledriver on the ringside table for good measure as well which must've hurt since the table had no give. Machine would get quite a few nearfalls on Tenryu after coming back to the ring but all it took was Tenryu to cutback an inside cradle to get the win. This was quite the psychology as Machine totally dominated Tenryu here but Tenryu would need just one counter to get the win. Interesting match but not a nomination.