Posted September 20, 200817 yr comment_5434719 Disc 17 July 20th & 27th 1984: 1. Dynamite Kid vs. Davey Boy Smith - They worked a methodical slugfest broken up with a few bursts of athleticism, mostly by Davey. Again, they seemed to be going for brutal veteran against stronger, quicker young buck. Neither guy held a long advantage for the first section of the match but Dynamite seemed to break Davey down with his strikes and suplexes and controlled most of the last five minutes before finishing with the flying headbutt. There was nothing really wrong with it, but it also didn't jump out as something that has to be on the set. 2. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Riki Choshu - As in most of their matches, they worked for a long time on the mat. They worked hard but didn't produce one of their more interesting ground displays. Eventually, of course, they got to the bigger moves. Fujinami won after he caught Choshu in a back suplex because Inoki distracted him from ringside. Again, this was more about setting up the big match between Inoki and Choshu than about furthering this long feud. 3. Kengo Kimra/Antonio Inoki vs. David Shultz/Bad News Allen - About what you'd expect. Lots of clubbing on Kimura. A few rallies from Inoki. Ending didn't make TV. 4. The Cobra vs. Davey Boy Smith - Davey had started to develop a more distinct style built around his strength. He press slammed Cobra and caught him in midair on an attempted plancha to the floor. Several times, when Cobra appeared to be gaining steam, Davey cut him off with short, hard clotheslines. So Cobra had to play counterpuncher against this guy who was way more powerful and just as agile. I still found his offense rather unfocused. But I liked that he won suddenly by catching Davey with a suplex as he entered the ring. It fit the story. I'll throw this on the block because it was my favorite Davey singles so far in NJ. I don't necessarily expect it to make the set. 5. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Dynamite Kid - This only went about seven minutes. They worked even most of the way. Dynamite hit an explosive looking missile drop kick that caught Fujinami just as he was rising to counter. But it led to nothing as Fujinami surprised him with a boot, suplexed him and got the pin. The ending felt very abrupt, but I guess that as a junior, Dynamite wasn't on Fujinami's level. 6. Kengo Kimura/Antonio Inoki vs. Riki Choshu/Yoshiaki Yatsu - It was Kimura in peril vs. Yatsu in peril. I was a little surprised they didn't do more Inoki-Choshu teases. Yatsu ultimately distracted Inoki long enough for Choshu to terminate Kimura. Not a standout tag among the many between these factions.
