Posted August 30, 200817 yr comment_5434321 New Japan Pro Wrestling TV (September 2nd & 9th 1983) - First three matches also appear on Classics 150 1. Antonio Inoki vs Dick Murdoch - You know, this was cruising toward a nomination. Murdoch controlled most of the way with a focused attack on Inoki's leg and some punches to the mouth for good measure. But then, Inoki shook off 15 minutes of punishing offense in an instant, hit two enziguiris and slapped on his octopus hold for the win. What a jerky performance. I have no problem with him winning. I understand that he was the kingpin. But why did he have to shit on all that great offense from a great opponent? It's like he was setting the template for the worst of Hogan. Pissed me off. 2. Animal Hamaguchi vs Rusher Kimura - This was along the same lines but wasn't as good as their previous match. They went to the countout pretty quickly. 3. Tatsumi Fujinami vs Riki Choshu - This was the first singles match from the series that struck me as unworthy of the set. It had a good set-up, with the International title held up after Choshu missed the Calgary trip. They landed some big blows at the beginning and then settled into their typical matwork section, which climaxed with an armbar contest. They both teased the scorpion and Choshu again showed that he could hit his lariat and back suplex out of nowhere. But before this could move to a hot ending, they went outside and hit a double lariat for the countout. Unlike their previouus matches, this did nothing to advance the feud. And I see no reason to nominate a placeholder. 4. Tatsumi Fujinami vs Riki Choshu (2/9) - End of the previous show's match. 5. Riki Choshu & Animal Hamaguchi vs Seiji Sakaguchi & Kengo Kimura - Pretty typical Choshu/Hamaguchi win over a second-tier opponent. Nothing too noteworthy. 6. Akira Maeda & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Rusher Kimura & Isamu Teranishi - This was fine -- lots of Maeda in peril, Teranishi looked pretty good, predictable double countout. Again, nothing too noteworthy. 7. Antonio Inoki vs Killer Khan - Khan came out brawling like he ought to with a double chop to the throat and a piledriver on the floor. Later Inoki, ripped the turnbuckle cover off and busted Kahn open on it (maybe the first blood I've seen in NJ this year.) But overall, these two struggled to create movement in their matches and unlike Khan's best opponents (Gordy, Choshu), Inoki was not a top-notch brawler. So a lot of the match was fairly boring. The episode also ended before the finish (though it looked from the credit sequence like Hamaguchi interfered.) No vote.
