Posted October 12, 200816 yr comment_5435150 DVD #9 4/26/85 (taped 4/18) - Matches also appear on Classics 189 Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Strong Machine #1 - Machine #1 attacked Fujinami with some good looking power offense (highlighted by a few chunky lariats.) Fujinami countered by going after his leg. They got the crowd really into it with the build to the finish, exchanging high-impact moves and counters. Machine's manager tried to end it by throwing powder at Fujinami, but he ducked and it hit Machine instead, allowing Fujinami to win with a roll-up. Machine and his manager argued afterward. Match worked as both a stand-alone and as a twist in the Machine faction angle. Nomination. Shunji Kosugi vs. Keichi Yamada - Excellent TV debut for the man who would be Liger. They exchanged holds early, with Yamada working the leg and Kosugi the arm. Nice, tight matwork and when it threatened to drag on too long, Yamada popped the crowd with a few high spots. He really had them in the palm of his hand when he kicked out of several big moves and fought to counter a tight headcissors. I thought he might pull the upset when he reached the ropes and popped up to hit a tombstone on Kosugi, but Kosugi survived and eventually caught Yamada in a roll-up. Yamada made a great underdog at this point because he was tiny (damn, he roided up later) but already had great moves and a sense of how to infuse drama. I'd have nominated this anyway, but I think it really belongs on the set given that it's an early peak at an all-time great. (taped 4/12/85) Antonio Inoki vs. Billy Jack - Nothing match. 5/4/85 (taped 4/17) Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Dick Murdoch - Dick showed his mastery of the little things here. He stayed active and aggressive during an early arm control sequence, put over Fujinami's offense with great facial selling and let a big wad of spit go whenever Fujinami popped him in the kisser. Fujinami was a worthy dance partner and they really elevated a pedestrian match structure with their craftsmanship. Nomination. Inoki/Sakaguchi/Kimura/Hoshino vs. Strong Machines - This never really built. It just went straight from the Machines abusing Hoshino and Kimura to Inoki isolating one of them and winning with an enziguiri.
