Posted October 8, 200816 yr comment_5435076 DVD #3 1/25/85 (taped 1/25) - These matches also appear on Classics 182 Shunji Takano/The Cobra/Hoshino vs. Strong Machines - I didn't get the booking here as the Machines, supposedly a main-event force, struggled for 20 minutes to put away a trio of light heavies. The match had a meandering vibe as the teams traded offensive advantage. The Machines were getting more innovative in their triple teams but that wasn't enough to save this match. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. King Kong Bundy - Short and not that interesting as Bundy didn't muster any cool fat-man offense and Fujinami didn't move beyond some rudimentary leg attacks. Not sure why they went to a double countout when they were building Bundy to a singles match with Inoki. Antonio Inoki vs. Abdullah the Butcher - Inoki failed to create the barely-controlled-brawl feel that distinguishes Butcher's best matches (Sakaguchi was better at that.) I mean, he busted Abdullah open pretty good with punches and he had the crowd roaring with three straight enziguiris at the end. But Inoki wasted the beginning trying to do a normal wrestling match when obviously, that wasn't going to happen with Butcher. 2/1/85 (taped 2/1) Shunji Takano/The Cobra vs. Black Tiger/Hiro Saito - I liked most of this better than their previous match as Tiger and Saito put together a really focused attack on Cobra's leg. I assumed this FIP section would lead to a hot tag and a chaotic ending. But no, Saito simply pinned Cobra with a suplex. I suppose a play on the usual tag structure is good sometimes, but it left this match feeling weirdly imbalanced. Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy - Pretty similar to a match they might've had in the States, though Hogan didn't get the clean win. He took the Avalanche, avoided Bundy's splash, Hulked up and hit his finisher (at least lariat > leg drop.) Bundy rolled out of the ring. So yeah, nothing special here. Kimura/Fujinami/Inoki vs. Strong Machines - Fine match but a step in no particular direction for a continually aimless feud.
