Best elimination trios yet. It started with some awesome underdog work by Hoshino against Hall. Murdoch, as you might expect, excelled at crafting near-elimination scenarios. It's a shame we never got to see him in War Games, because he would've been every bit as masterful as Arn Anderson. Orton did some fantastic heel work from the apron. He had superb chemistry with Choshu. Murdoch and Inoki tossed in a long, great one-on-one battle. The match ended in a surprising, smart fashion that paid off the story of the match. This was just great all the way around and a slam dunk choice.

Elimination Match: Scott Hall, “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch, & Bob Orton Jr. vs. Antonio Inoki, Kantaro Hoshino, & Riki Choshu (11/17/88)

 

Always fun seeing Inoki & Choshu teaming up. Hoshino and his perm would show lots of scrappiness and was quite a pesky competitor for the gaijin to deal with. Murdoch was great here avoiding elimination which in this match was hitting the floor especially after a Riki Rariato. Hall would get eliminated first as Choshu ran a marathon around the ring avoiding Hall’s strikes before finally hitting the Riki Rariato for the pin. Orton & Murdoch would then just pound on Hoshino before the patented Murdoch brainbuster to eliminate Hoshino evening the odds. Then we had a great elimination as Choshu went for the Riki Rariato but his momentum carried him & Orton over the top rope to the floor putting them both out leaving Inoki & Murdoch to go at it one-on-one. Orton playing a buffer for Murdoch blocking him from being eliminated was great. Murdoch would hit a sweet backdrop suplex that would fold Inoki up like an accordion which would pop the crowd. Mrudoch would then hit a piledriver then the awesome knee to the back from the top rope which Ivan Koloff would use as a finisher in years past to setup a brainbuster but Inoki being Inoki would slip out trying a cobra twist. Orton would see this and as Hall would distract Tiger Hattori, he would grab Inoki and threw him over the top to the floor. Choshu was fucking pissed and decided to give Murdoch a Riki Rariato before some more brawling until the heels would leave the ring raising their hands in victory. Chono & Hashimoto would then come out talking shit to the old guys before Inoki would call them a couple of cunts leading to a standoff in the ring before cooler heads prevailed. This was a blast and is a fairly easy nomination.

Yeah this is really great, Hoshino is so awesome in this I love his Bugs Bunny stuff with Murdoch. Both Murdoch and Orton ruled in this, using tons of little tricks to get an advantage. I especially loved Orton blocking Murdoch with his back when he was going to be tossed. Makes a set.

This is an easy yes. I remember reading about how Bob Orton and Juvi were driving buddies but I don't know if I've ever seen Orton look this effeminate. I mean mutached Scott Hall is right there and still Orton looks like the guy you expect to find arrested in a seventies bath house. Hall v Hoshino here has become my new favorite Hall v a short guy in a gimmick match match. The Murdoch v Inoki end run with nothing else would be an easy yes.

11/17/88 Dick Murdoch/Scott Hall/Bob Orton Jr. vs. Antonio Inoki/Riki Choshu/Kantaro Hoshino (Sky A 112)

- Really digging the early feeling-out section esp. the Bob Orton run. Orton knocking Hoshino around is pretty fun since Hoshino is my new favorite whipping post and then Inoki and Choshu come in to avenge their mate. Sounds good to me. When Hoshino actually holds a headlock or hammerlock for a couple of minutes, it feels like a real accomplishment. I see where Phi laws coming from on the phone where he said the battle royal elimination to the floor really creates great moments of drama. Murdoch looked scared shitless as he was almost eliminated early on. Scott Hall really didn’t bring anything but he was also inoffensive. I would have really loved to see a Choshu/Hoshino vs. Murdoch/Orton match. Did this ever happen? Anyway, the Murdoch and Orton team was solid gold, Hoshino was solid gold and Choshu is one of my favorites. Murdoch-Inoki is always a good match up so easy nomination.

 

NJ Classics 317