Shiro Koshinaka & Naoki Sano vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kuniaki Kobayashi (8/5/89)

 

I dug the matwork with Hase & Sano early on with both men going in and out of holds fluidly. I love how Kobayashi would always use the tombstone piledriver as a transition spot then as he started pounding Sano on the floor, Koshinaka went over and slapped him. Sano then continued to get worked over by his opponents with Hase even hitting a jumping Northern Lights Suplex. Koshinaka would tag in and we got some fun stuff with him against Hase using his headbutts before Kobayashi & Hase would crotch him on the floor around the ringpost. They kept working over Koshinaka but Kobayashi would decide to start headbutting him big fucking mistake as Koshinaka started no selling and crushing him with his own. Sano would come in showing off his leaping ability on Kobayashi before nuking him with a diving dropkick through the ropes to the floor. Kobayashi then ate a serious spike piledriver right on his head but kicked out at two. This led to some fun back and forth action with Hase doing a good job working in peril before both teams started making quick tags and hitting big spots like Kobayashi with his Fisherman’s Suplex on Sano for a nearfall. Koshinaka then decided it was time for business and hit ASS BASED OFFENSE on Hase before tagging in Honaga who accidentally hit him with a diving dropkick on Koshinaka leading to him taking double spinning leg kicks and a sasorigatame by Hase but Sano would come in to break it up. Hase would then go for cradles for nearfalls until Koshinaka hit a German Suplex hold on him for the win. This was a really good house show match between four of the best workers in the company at this time and I think this should go on the block.

The matwork early on was really neat and Sano getting his ass kicked was solid but the crowd wasn't up for it. They lit up once Koshinaka came in. After Kosh gets crotched, Hase gives him an inverted atomic drop. I love that kind of logical follow-up. Now it is Kosh's turn to get his ass kicked. Kris touched on the headbutt battle. Sano vs. Kobayashi got into a little flippy territory with a weak dropkick but it was redeemed by a brutal baseball slide shortly after. Some good back and forth during the middle part of the match if nothing really that stands out. A nice hot run finishes it and this has to at least be in the conversation. A good solid mid-pick for me.

A lot of talent here, obviously, but the body of the match bored me. The matwork was technically fine but lacked a lot of spunk. The headbutt stuff offered a change of pace, but never felt really hate-filled. The long control sections on Sano and Kosh stagnated. The last few minutes rocked, no doubt. But this match type is represented better elsewhere on the set as are all of the individual wrestlers. No from me.

I am with Kris and Will here, I liked this a bunch. I loved how Sano kept getting flipped up and landing on his feet. The Koshinaka headbutt stuff was pretty great too, and the finish section ruled. The more Sano the better I say.