Posted June 21, 200817 yr comment_5432335 New Japan Classics 151 September 21, 1983 Seiji Sakaguchi & Akira Maeda vs. Dick Murdoch & Tony St. Clair (9/21/83) - Decent tag match, not great. The natives take advantage of St. Clair whenever he is in the ring, requiring Murdoch to carry the offensive load for his team as well as saving St. Clair's ass. MAeda pins St. Clair after a belly to belly in about ten minutes. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Riki Choshu (9/21/83) - THis was similar to the previous match where they don't really strike or pull off moves early on but instead work the mat and trade holds. The big difference is that this time, it it felt like they were actually battling each other to gain an advantage instead of just demonstrating wrestling holds. This trade for holds eventually leads to a nice sequence where Fujinami tries to apply the Sharpshooter but after failing to, he whips Choshu to the ropes but misses a dropkick. To capitalize, Choshu locks in his Sharpshooter. After Fujinami regroups outside, Fujinami lays on his back, daring Choshu to attempt the hold again. As he gets to his feet, he nails Choshu with an enziguiri so he can apply a Figure 4. Again, another nice sequence. After feleing, he has worn Choshu down enough, Fujinami goes for teh dropkick off the Irish Whip and this time, he nails it AND successfully applies the Sharpshooter. The end run is short but full of action. Fujinami cannot finish Choshu off after abusing him and Choshu cannot finish Fujinami off even after he hits the lariat. Eventually, Fujinami gives Choshu a back suplex outside the ring and both men are counted out. It is rare that post-match activities enhance a match in New Japan but it works here. Both men agree to continue fightin g even though the referee has left. After Fujinami runs the ropes, he is tripped from the outside. Choshu drops an elbow, gives Fujinami a back suplex and Killer Khan counts to three for the moral victory. Easy nomination and Fujinami will probably be the Ted Dibiase of this set. Just so many good matches to choose from. Antonio Inoki vs. Rusher Kimura (9/21/83) - Really stiff exhanges early on. Rusher has some weak slaps but his headbutts make up for it. Inoki is really connecting with this strikes. After going outside to recover from a swift kick to the head, Rusher ends up blading but Inoki continues the assault with some soccer kicks to the head. Rusher is busted open and when he gets inside, Inoki pummels him some more. The referee counts to ten and Inoki wins by knockout while Rusher lays on the mat as a bloody mess. If this match had some emat it would be a no-brainer but it was criminally short and seemed more like an angle than a match.
