Posted July 29, 200817 yr comment_5433377 New Japan Pro Wrestling TV (February 11th & 18th 1983) 1. Tiger Mask vs Black Tiger (7/2) - I'm of a mixed mind about this one. It featured some pretty staggering athleticism, especially in the context of the time. But it also featured some pretty terrible no-selling, with BT bouncing right back from a tombstone on the floor and TM hopping right up from a missed top-rope splash to the floor. I won't fight for it but I will throw it up for nomination as I think juniors matches like this were what set New Japan apart, for good and bad, at this point. 2. Isamu Teranishi, Animal Hamaguchi, Rusher Kimura & Antonio Inoki (7/2) - This was some weird gauntlet thing which amounted to Inoki in a handicap match against three guys. Like almost all Inoki matches in this period, it ended with a wild brawl that spilled into the crowd. 3. Seiji Sakaguchi & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Killer Khan & Riki Choshu (7/2) - This was effective at building the hate in the Choshu-Fujinami rivalry but wasn't much of a match on its own terms. 4. Tiger Mask vs Kuniaki Kobayashi ((7/2) - This match-up always worked pretty well because Kobayashi was the junior who did best at grounding TM, but he could also work fast and trade big moves when necessary. This lacked the crowd intensity and drama of their January match so it falls a touch short for me. 5. Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi vs Rusher Kimura & Animal Hamaguchi (7/2) - The return from the earlier gauntlet with Inoki seeking revenge. It actually had some fun sequences with Rusher slapping Inoki around and head butting him above the eye. And I think folks who haven't watched much 80s puro will learn to love Hamaguchi for his energy and bumping. That said, it degenerated into another show ending brawl. Hogan was actually the big ring-clearer this time with the fans going apeshit for his assist.
