All Japan Classics 76

 

Dory Funk Jr. v. Super Destroyer (12/07/82)

- This was ok but nothing special. Dory wins after reversing a backdrop into a sunset flip pin.

 

Harley Race v. Jumbo Tsuruta (UN Title, 10/24/82)

- OK stuff early on but you expect it to pick up after Harley misses a headbutt on the floor with Jumbo taking control. The problem is that when Harley makes it back to the ring, he takes control. This was a missed opportunity in my view. Another missed opportunity after Jumbo rams Harley into the ring post and Harley falls to the floor but his legs are trapped on the bottom ring post. Jumbo goes outside to attack but when Harley breaks free of the ropes, he goes on the offense again. The end result was right with Jumbo pinning Harley clean with a Thesz press but the build was all wrong. No vote.

 

Harley Race v. Giant Baba (PWF Title, 11/02/82)

- Early on, this is all about Harley bumping around for Baba. Unlike the Jumbo match, Baba actually maintains control after he capitalizes on a move. Consider that later in the match, Harley hits the piledriver and goes or the falling headbutt. He took too long to set it up and missed the headbutt. At this point, Baba goes back on the offensive. They even do the same shoulder into ring post into tree of woe from the bottom rope spot. However, this time, Baba maintains control after the spot. After a Baba Hart Attack clothesline, you are sure he has this match in the bag. Race has been beat, bloodied and dominated even though he is the champ. Baba no sells a Race piledriver and you begin to think that Phil’s complaint may have some weight to it After this, the match descends into silliness and we get a ref bump, some guy taking a tumble off the apron, a No Contest finish and some brawling after the fact. I was all set to pull the trigger on a nomination but the ref bump and what followed just killed it for me. These guys already have better matches nominated so we can leave this off.

Dory Funk Jr. vs. Super Destroyer (12/7/82)

 

This was a decent match with a nice finish seeing Dory reverse a piledriver into a cradle to get the win.

 

NWA United National Heavyweight Title: "Mr. Puroresu" Harley Race © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (10/24/82)

 

This started out like a Harley/Jumbo match with a lot of the same stuff from the others but there wasn't any real motivation from these guys to me as it looked like they were just going through the motions plus this crowd was pretty quiet for this one as well. There was a spot with Harley getting his legs caught in the ropes after hitting the ringpost but Jumbo doesn't do much of anything so Harley gives him a brainbuster on the floor to no heat. There was a nice stretch run though that featured a sweet Jumbo overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a nearfall leading up to the Thesz Press to win. If only the body of the match matched the finish this could've moved forward.

 

PWF Heavyweight Title: "Mr. Puroresu" Harley Race © vs. Giant Baba (11/2/82)

 

Like the previous match, this is your standard fare Race/Baba match to start with a lot of the similar stuff. Race bleeds after being posted by Baba on the floor and this kicks up but we get all kind of wacky Race selling including hanging off ropes then wacky offense like falling headbutts on the floor repeated by rapid headbutts and a piledriver on the floor that Baba no sells. Joe Higuchi would then get knocked on the floor and this turned into a total clusterfuck with Higuchi unable to control them and calling for the bell. Not a nomination.